Stepping Up For Health and Gender Equality:UN Leadership and Collaboration
- 365healthdiaries
- Mar 31
- 2 min read
By Hamu Madzedze
Online Health Editor-Zimbabwe
The United Nations has revealed that the world is not on track to realizing the right to health and gender equity, despite committing to Agenda 2030 with a common vision and work plan.
This was revealed by Dr. Tlaleng Mofokeng, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health, at a side event organized by the 69th UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69).
Dr Mofokeng said, "We are not doing well in delivering on the promises of the UN Sustainable Development Goals."
She added, "There is a need to use racial equity and anti-colonial frameworks to advance progress in the right to health. Protecting the human right to health requires constant analysis of power; none of us can imagine a future without a commitment to constantly analyzing power."
Dr Mofokeng also highlighted that "it is impossible to separate the right to health from other human rights. It is good to remember that when we realize the right to health, gender equality can be attained."
The Chief Executive Officer of the Global Centre for Health Diplomacy and Inclusion (CeHDI) emphasized that the right to sexual and reproductive health is the cornerstone for everyone.
"We are working to enhance South-South partnerships to enhance like-minded multilateralism between North and South by bringing governments to be solely responsible for the right to health."
Dawn Minott, UNFPA Advisor on Gender and Gender-Based Violence, pointed out, "Access to sexual and reproductive health empowers women and girls, leading to improved health and economic opportunities.
According to UNFPA estimations, investing every dollar in family planning and maternal health in developing countries yields a return of US$8.40."
Minott added, "We must prioritize sexual and reproductive health and rights in health budgets, explore innovative financing, and direct more resources to women-led and feminist organizations.
Currently, health financing is inadequate, and in 2022, less than 1% of global aid was allocated towards addressing gender-based violence.
"Only 1% of health research focuses on non-oncology female-specific conditions, so we must prioritize sexual and reproductive health rights in health budgets and explore innovative financing."
Comments