WUNRN
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Post - 2015: Desired Outcomes |
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19 - 21 November 2014 |
Overview
As the world and its economies become increasingly
globalized, it is necessary to think about
health in a global context. While there are talks about
sustainable development for women’s
health, little is mentioned about women’s health for sustainable
development. Other than
reproductive medicine, the subject of women’s health has not
been presented or discussed as
fully as possible around the world. As a result, there is
insufficient knowledge within academia as
well as at healthcare, public- and policy-maker levels on sex-
and gender-based disparities,
climate change and changing patterns of diseases, and
increased conflicts and migration in the
prevalence, progression and outcome of numerous diseases and
conditions, including non-
communicable diseases and mental illnesses. This lack of
knowledge not only affects women but
also men and the whole of society.
Despite some progress made in women’s health in the last
decade, for millions of women and girls
throughout the world, the right of everyone to the enjoyment
of the highest attainable standard of
physical and mental health, including access to medicines,
vaccines, commodities, equipment,
other supplies, comprehensive primary healthcare services,
health promotion and disease
prevention, still remains a distant goal. In many
instances, especially for those living in poverty
and populations in vulnerable or marginalised situations, this
goal is becoming increasingly
remote.
There is an urgent need to promote new thinking on the mechanisms
that support innovation in
women’s health programs. Further, it is essential to recognise
the importance and need of science
and technology for development and the critical role of
science, technology and innovation in
addressing global challenges and in realising sustainable
development to enhance health, and
reduce the burdens of illness and disability.
The World Women’s Health and Development Forum, organised by
the Royal Academy of
Science International Trust (RASIT), aims to advance the health,
wealth and empowerment of
women in all of their diverse communities. The Forum is the
first international step towards a
collaborative approach to women’s health and wellbeing.
The Forum, dedicated to “Post-2015 Desired Outcomes,” will
identify the main challenges facing
countries in developing and enhancing women’s health. It will
reflect practices, information-sharing
mechanisms and concrete actions for the health and development
of women and girls, taking into
consideration different needs of different societies and
cultures. The Forum also will consider
initiatives at regional and international levels to increase
cooperation and coordination.
This three-day High Level Forum is an occasion for world
leaders, United Nations system entities,
scientists, healthcare professionals, and members of civil
society, the media and the private
sector to discuss ways to develop and promote sustainably the
health of women and girls. Special
focus will be on desired outcomes of women’s health and development
in the Post-2015 Agenda
for implementation. A Forum Declaration, designed to frame an
ambitious “Global Action Agenda
for Women’s Health,” shall be produced.
The Forum is structured around three pillars:
• Health Economics
Promoting change through
leadership development, economic empowerment, education
and policy development.
• Health Disparities
Addressing sex- and gender-based health disparities among diverse
populations of women
by reducing leading causes of illness, impairments, and the premature death of
women
globally.
• Health Systems and Innovation
Directing women’s healthcare policy development through innovative
programme models
and promoting women’s health and sustainable development globally.
Purpose
The
Forum will take place at a critical time in the Post-2015 process. As the
international
community strives to achieve the Millennium Development Goals while formulating
the Post-2015
Development Agenda including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), 2015 is
recognised
to be a once-in-a-generation opportunity for transformational change, with the
potential to shape
the future of our peoples and our planet for the better.
Yet, beyond global policy-makers and advocacy groups, most citizens are not
fully aware of the
contours and importance of this new Sustainable Development Agenda.
The purpose of this Forum is to harness the strategies, expertise and resources
across the
broadest spectrum of policy-makers, professionals, civil society and the
private sector to move
women’s health for sustainable development into the mainstream discourse, and
spark sustained
public demand for lasting political action in support of an ambitious outcome
from the Post-2015
Sustainable Development process.
The Forum Planning Committee has made every effort to ensure that perspectives
from
north/south, gender, youth, older persons, indigenous peoples, persons with
disabilities, global
geographic areas, expert constituencies, and international networks are
included.
Participants
Civil
society members representing diverse constituencies from science, healthcare,
academia,
industry and other stakeholders’ communities will be actively identified to
participate in the first
World Women’s Health and Development Forum.
The venue of the United Nations Office at Geneva provides a unique opportunity
to engage world
leaders, UN officials, policy-makers, scientists, educators, businesses,
parliamentarians and
others from around the world.
Conclusion
Since
the Millennium Summit in 2000, the United Nations, governments, civil society
and other
stakeholders have been engaged in an historic enterprise to achieve the
Millennium Development
Goals and are now defining a new Sustainable Development Agenda for 2015–2030.
The year 2015 holds the promise of being the point of transition to a bold, new
generation of
people-centred and planet-sensitive development and the beginning of a strong
movement for
transformational change. Constituencies working on climate change, sustainable development,
effective development cooperation, environment, economic justice, human rights
and gender
equality must come together to strengthen and create new goals if we are to
achieve an historic,
new social contract that reflects a strong and radical narrative of hope and
transformation.
The World Women’s Health and Development Forum is an opportunity to bring
together the vast
diversity of United Nations, governments, civil society representation,
constituencies and
campaigns during the 69th Session of the General Assembly, when critical
decisions will be made
by governments about advancing the Sustainable Development Agenda.
The Forum shall provide an inclusive space for the expression of a diversity of
views, with a focus
on ensuring that marginalised voices are heard. It is an opportunity for
scientific and healthcare
professionals as well as civil society to come together to support the
Post-2015 negotiations, and
contribute to a successful Post-2015 Agenda and its implementation, including
through informed
and constructive dissenting opinions.
A Forum Declaration that defines an ambitious, inspiring and concrete “Action
Agenda” on women’s
health and sustainable development shall be produced building upon and
advancing a global
movement comprised of diverse mobilisation campaigns, advocacy strategies,
partnerships and
accountability frameworks. This Declaration will be widely shared with UN
system, Member-States,
global civil society and other stakeholders.
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