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WHO and IPU Forge Stronger Parliamentary Action on Global Health Challenges
Geneva, Switzerland – October 26, 2025 – The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) concluded a landmark week of collaboration at the 151st IPU Assembly, solidifying the critical role of parliamentary leadership in addressing pressing global health issues. The assembly, held from October 19th to 23rd, brought together nearly 1150 delegates, including over 600 parliamentarians from 132 nations, to chart a course for a healthier, more equitable future.
Discussions centered on strengthening health systems, advancing health equity, and upholding humanitarian principles in an increasingly complex world. Key areas of focus included sexual and reproductive health and rights, food security, humanitarian action in crises, and the vital role of youth leadership.
Parliamentary Engagement: A Cornerstone of Global Health Security
The week’s events underscored a fundamental truth: robust health outcomes are inextricably linked to effective policy and legislation. Parliamentarians, as representatives of the people, possess a unique power to translate global health commitments into tangible improvements in the lives of their constituents. This assembly served as a crucial platform for fostering that translation.
Advancing Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights
A central theme of the assembly was aligning sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) policy with the lived realities of individuals. Dr. Pascale Allotey, Director of WHO’s Department of Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health and Ageing including HRP, emphasized the foundational importance of SRHR for demographic sustainability, resilient health systems, and socioeconomic development. Despite facing growing misinformation and political headwinds, Dr. Allotey reaffirmed WHO’s commitment to evidence-based policymaking.
“Evidence must be used – not only known – to inform parliamentary action in shaping laws, budgets and policies,” Dr. Allotey stated. Priorities highlighted included integrating SRHR into universal health coverage (UHC), addressing adolescent sexual health, tackling infertility, and leveraging data for progressive policy development, including safe abortion care. The inaugural meeting of the IPU Committee on Health formalized a dedicated body to champion these efforts, focusing on inequalities and discrimination in access to healthcare.
The dialogue included contributions from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH), Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF), and the European Parliamentary Forum for Sexual and Reproductive Rights (EPF), fostering a collaborative approach to overcoming challenges.
Tackling Food Insecurity Through Legislative Action
Co-hosted by the WHO, IPU, PMNCH, and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), a high-level workshop, “Breaking the hunger cycle: addressing food security,” explored the power of parliamentary leadership in combating malnutrition. Ms. Kaia Engesveen, WHO Technical Officer, presented compelling data highlighting the urgent need for accelerated action to meet the 2030 Global Nutrition Targets.
Ms. Engesveen outlined key regulatory interventions parliamentarians can champion, including food fortification, public food procurement policies, restrictions on unhealthy food marketing, and taxation of sugary drinks. Parliamentarians shared national experiences, demonstrating how legislative action can translate global commitments into concrete results. This workshop served as a vital precursor to the Third Global Parliamentary Summit against Hunger and Malnutrition, scheduled for Midrand, South Africa in 2026.
Did You Know? Globally, an estimated 735 million people faced hunger in 2022, according to the UN, highlighting the critical need for parliamentary action to address food insecurity.
Protecting Health in Crises and Upholding Humanitarian Norms
The assembly’s General Debate, themed “Upholding humanitarian norms and supporting humanitarian action in times of crisis,” addressed the growing challenges posed by conflicts, displacement, and climate-related health emergencies. Ms. Elisa Scolaro, WHO External Relations Officer, reminded delegates that “health is often the first casualty in crisis,” urging them to prioritize the protection of health workers and facilities, combat misinformation, and secure sustainable financing for resilient health systems.
“In these divided times, health must remain a bridge for cooperation and dialogue, where all nations can work together toward a shared goal,” Ms. Scolaro emphasized. The debate culminated in the adoption of the Geneva Declaration, reaffirming the inviolability of healthcare facilities and personnel during times of conflict.
Empowering Youth Leadership in Health and Humanitarian Responses
Representing the WHO Youth Council, Jingxin Xiao of Act4Food, underscored the essential role of young people not merely as beneficiaries, but as active agents in humanitarian and health responses. Ms. Xiao called on parliamentarians to strengthen youth participation in decision-making processes, integrate health, climate, and digital literacy into education systems, and prioritize youth mental health in humanitarian settings.
This commitment reflects the WHO Youth Council’s dedication to ensuring young voices shape global health policy and its intention to collaborate with the IPU Forum of Young Parliamentarians in future assemblies.
Strengthening Tobacco Control Through Parliamentary Collaboration
On the sidelines of the assembly, the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) Secretariat convened a side event focused on parliamentary engagement. Participants from over ten countries, alongside international organizations and WHO experts, shared experiences and explored strategies to accelerate the implementation of the WHO FCTC and its Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products.
The event highlighted the crucial role of parliaments in enacting robust tobacco control legislation, increasing taxes on tobacco products, and safeguarding public health policies from industry interference. Sustained collaboration and technical support from WHO were identified as essential for full implementation.
The 151st IPU Assembly reaffirmed WHO’s steadfast partnership with the IPU, paving the way for continued dialogue at the next World Health Assembly, where the two organizations will co-host the annual Global Parliamentary Forum in May 2026. With over 50 WHO colleagues participating throughout the week, the assembly remains a vital platform for maintaining open communication with policymakers and advancing key priorities, including UHC, global health security, and health promotion, with a particular focus on the well-being of women, children, and adolescents.
What innovative legislative approaches can parliamentarians adopt to address the social determinants of health in their constituencies? And how can we ensure that the voices of marginalized communities are central to the development of health policies?
Frequently Asked Questions About the WHO-IPU Collaboration
What is the primary goal of the WHO-IPU partnership?
The primary goal is to strengthen parliamentary action on global health issues, ensuring that policies and legislation effectively address health challenges and promote health equity.
What role does the IPU Committee on Health play in this collaboration?
The IPU Committee on Health serves as a dedicated body to champion parliamentary engagement on health, with a specific focus on inequalities and discrimination in access to healthcare.
How does the WHO support parliamentarians in addressing food insecurity?
The WHO provides data, outlines regulatory interventions like food fortification and taxation of sugary drinks, and facilitates the sharing of best practices among parliamentarians.
Why is youth leadership considered important in humanitarian and health responses?
Young people are not only affected by health crises but also possess valuable insights and energy to contribute to solutions, making their participation crucial.
What is the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC)?
The WHO FCTC is an international treaty aimed at reducing the harmful effects of tobacco through various measures, including legislation and taxation.
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