WEBINAR: Can we speak with the Secretariat of the World Health Assembly, please?
Ravi Ram
Dear friends and colleagues,
A civil society grouping - comprising the People's Health Movement (PHM) and Medicus Mundi International (MMI), with Action Contre la Faim (ACF), Save the Children International, AfroPHC and COPASAH - will hold a webinar and civil society discussion with WHO next week:
“Can we speak with the Secretariat of the World Health Assembly, please?” New perspectives for civil society interaction with WHO
This session is part of the series hosted by the Geneva Global Health Hub (G2H2) during the week of policy dialogues before the opening of the World Health Assembly,
Register here for this session (and all other sessions in the G2H2 policy dialogues).
Looking forward to active civil society questions and ideas, concerning WHO, civic space and a proposed WHO-Civil Society Commission.
For more information, see the session announcement below and online.
In solidarity,
Ravi Ram
G2H2 hosted policy debate ahead of the World Health Assembly
Session on Monday, 16 May 2022, 15.00-16.30 CEST
“Can we speak with the Secretariat of the World Health Assembly, please?” New perspectives for civil society interaction with WHO
We have often, and for good reasons, raised the issue of a shrinking civic space and difficult working conditions for civil society in its interaction with the World Health Organization and in particular the WHO governing body meetings. But not everything is hopeless, and it makes sense to distinguish between the indeed often difficult processes and fora in which WHO member states are in the lead and a more open attitude towards civil society by the WHO Secretariat and its Director-General. To further improve these relations, the project of a WHO Civil Society Commission was proposed by civil society organizations to the WHO Secretariat in 2020 and found the interest and support of the Director-General. The Commission is expected to be launched in 2022.
In this session, PHM, MMI, other G2H2 members and partners engaged in the promotion of the WHO Civil Society Commission will provide an overview of the history of this current initiative and what civil society may expect from the Commission. The policy dialogue will also outline potential pitfalls, traps, competing interests and open questions, based on past experiences and some particular challenges related to WHO governance. Will the Commission be a breakthrough towards more meaningful civil society engagement with the WHO Secretariat, or will it follow the path of other failed initiatives?
More about this session
- Session organized by the People's Health Movement (PHM) and Medicus Mundi International (MMI), along with Action Contre la Faim, Save the Children International, AfroPHC and COPASAH
- Contact for enquiries: Ravi M. Ram (ravi...@gmail.com)
- Register here for this session and the series of G2H2 policy dialogues
- Language: English, (French support via meeting chat box)
16-20 May 2022: Series of G2H2 hosted public policy debates
People’s realities, determinants of health, democratic governance:
Connecting dots outside the doors of the World Health Assembly
At the 75th World Health Assembly (WHA75) scheduled for 22-28 May 2022, the size of delegations allowed to follow the proceedings in-person at the Palais des Nations will be strictly limited. This awkward setup is explained by the Secretariat of the World Health Organization with capacity issues (delayed renovation of the Palais des Nations), and it has found its way into the title of the May 2022 series of policy debates hosted by the Geneva Global Health Hub: “People’s realities, determinants of health, democratic governance: Connecting dots outside the doors of the World Health Assembly”. Outside the doors of the World Health Assembly – this is indeed where most of us will be. To join us for this series of policy debates, register here.
- Updates and documentation: https://g2h2.org/posts/may2022/
- Contact for enquiries: Thomas Schwarz, in...@g2h2.org