Seventy-sixth World Health Assembly – Daily update: 25 May 2023
Progress and challenges in women’s, children’s and adolescent health
The World Health Assembly delegates in Committee A discussed progress against the Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescent Health (2016-2030). During the discussion, which took place over two days, drawing comments from a high number of Member States, the delegates strongly reiterated their commitment to the Strategy as a priority for global health and expressed alarm about stalling progress in improving maternal and newborn survival.
The Director-General’s report on the Strategy presented to the World Health Assembly expressed alarm that maternal mortality rates have stagnated since 2016. Furthermore, if current trends continue, it said, 54 countries will fall short of meeting the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target for under-five mortality and 63 countries will not achieve the SDG target for neonatal mortality. Levels of violence against women and girls remain alarmingly high, while mental health challenges represent an increasing health threat for adolescents.
Delegates emphasized the importance of an integrated, life-course approach to improve outcomes, including access to sexual and reproductive health services, as well as greater efforts and investment to accelerate progress in the poorest, fragile and conflict-affected countries.
Related links
- A76/5 Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health (2016–2030) Report by the Director-General
- Related progress reports
Member States urge WHO to keep momentum on work to prevent and respond to sexual misconduct
Committee B this afternoon discussed the Prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (Item 22.1) as part of the Review of and update on matters considered by the Executive Board (Item 22, Pillar 4)
The Committee heard the recommendations of the Programme, Budget and Administration Committee of the Executive Board and the Committee’s Chair opened the floor. Australia spoke on behalf of 61 Member States from across WHO’s regions; Botswana spoke on behalf of the 47 African Region Member States; Israel, India, Indonesia, Timor-Leste, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Kenya, the United States of America, South Africa, Maldives, Ecuador, Bangladesh and Peru also took the floor.
All speakers acknowledged the significant progress made by WHO in tackling sexual misconduct and welcomed both the new Policy on Addressing Sexual Misconduct (PASM), launched in March 2023, and the three-year strategy to prevent and respond to sexual misconduct, launched in January this year. Member States highlighted the need for the conclusion of the cases relating to the response to the 10th Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (2018-2019) including holding perpetrators to account and supporting victims and survivors comprehensively. They welcomed WHO’s transparency in publishing dashboards capturing both investigations and disciplinary action taken. They encouraged WHO to continue to make progress and lead by example within the UN system. Member States stressed that preventing and responding to sexual misconduct is a shared responsibility and they will continue to support WHO.
The Director-General thanked Member States for their support and reminded Member States that WHO is focusing on four areas: changing the organizational culture – a process that takes time; having safe and trusted reporting mechanisms in place; ensuring swift and credible investigations and setting deadlines for the end-to-end process (200 days); and following a victim and survivor-centered approach.
Related links
A76/7 Rev.1
Consolidated report by the Director-General
A76/39
Prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment
Report of the Programme, Budget and Administration Committee of the Executive Board to the Seventy-sixth World Health Assembly
Sustainable financing: feasibility of a replenishment mechanism
Results Report 2022, Financial report and audit for year ended 31 December 2022
Financing and implementation Programme Budget 22-23 and outlook of Programme Budget 24-25
Member States welcomed the Results Report and the detailed work found therein. Further progress is needed to achieve the triple billion targets towards attaining the health-related Sustainable Development Goals and meeting other health challenges.
Related links
Results Report 2022 (Programme budget 2022–2023: performance assessment)
Mid-term review of implementation of the Programme budget 2022–2023
Voluntary contributions by fund and by contributor, 2022
WHO reform
WHO presence in countries, territories and areas: 2023 report
WHO’s Contribution towards health outcomes
Financing and implementation of the Programme budget 2022–2023 and outlook on financing of the Programme budget 2024–2025
Financing and implementation of the Programme budget 2022–2023 and outlook on financing of the Programme budget 2024–2025
Today delegates at the Seventy-sixth World Health Assembly participated in a Strategic Roundtable on Ending TB by 2030: Universal access to care, multisectoral collaboration, and innovations to accelerate progress and combat antimicrobial resistance.
Related links