WHO joined parliamentary leaders at the Sixth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, 29-31 July. Convened every five years by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in close collaboration with the UN, the Conference serves as the global platform for parliamentary dialogue and cooperation. Since its inception in 2000, it has played a vital role in reinforcing the parliamentary dimension of the UN's work and amplifying the voice of legislatures in global governance.
This year marked the largest gathering to date, with over 110 Speakers of Parliament attending, a powerful signal of global commitment to multilateralism and cooperation.
Held under the theme, "Parliamentary cooperation and multilateralism for peace, justice and prosperity for all," this year's gathering addressed the interconnected turmoil facing the world today. These challenges include growing conflicts and inequity to climate change and mis- and disinformation. Speakers underscored the critical role of parliaments in upholding democratic values, strengthening multilateralism with the UN at its core, and accelerating progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
"In the aftermath of the Second World War, the nations of the world came together in the recognition that the only alternative to global conflict was global cooperation," said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, in his address to the General Debate.
"In 1945, they formed the United Nations, and in 1948, the World Health Organization. The Constitution of the WHO became the first instrument of international law to affirm that health is a fundamental human right. But it went further, saying that health is fundamental to the attainment of peace and security. That conviction remains as relevant today as it was 77 years ago."
He highlighted that health continues to be one of the strongest unifying forces for cooperation in an increasingly polarized world, citing the recent adoption of the Pandemic Agreement by WHO Member States as a prime example of global solidarity. "After three-and-a-half years of negotiation, the nations of the world showed that it is still possible for countries to work together and to find common ground for a common purpose… the adoption of the Pandemic Agreement was truly historic – a major win for health, but also for multilateralism in general."
He urged parliamentary leaders to take forward the Agreement's next phase and speak out against deceptions surrounding the Agreement. "Parliaments will be the ones to ratify the Agreement, and to translate global consensus into national legislation," he noted.
Dr Tedros also highlighted the importance of parliamentarians transitioning toward sustainable domestic health financing despite shrinking fiscal space. He underscored that WHO is supporting countries to mobilize domestic resources and improve efficiency through tools such as health taxes, public health insurance, and pooled procurement, all of which contribute to stronger and more self-reliant systems.
The High-Level Declaration adopted at the close of the Conference echoed these messages, urging parliaments to embed the SDGs into national strategies, budgets, and laws to ensure an integrated approach. The Declaration also called for tackling global challenges through strengthened multilateral engagement as the most effective way to identify and implement collective solutions. The Declaration further emphasized the responsibility of parliaments to champion evidence-based policy-making and uphold democratic accountability.
WHO continues to work closely with the IPU to promote and strengthen parliamentary engagement in health, particularly through joint initiatives such as the annual Global Parliamentary Forum, held during the World Health Assembly each May in Geneva.
"WHO and the IPU now host an annual Global Parliamentary Forum during the World Health Assembly every May in Geneva," said Dr Tedros in his remarks to the Speakers of Parliament. It is a unique opportunity to bring the voice of parliaments into global health decision-making, and we hope you will join us there,."
