More than 1.3 billion people around the world live with a disability, and many face serious health inequalities. These include shorter life expectancy and a higher risk of illness due to unfair and avoidable conditions both inside and outside health systems. To address this, the World Health Organization (WHO) is launching a new global initiative to improve health outcomes for persons with disabilities.
The WHO Global Initiative on Health Equity for Persons with Disabilities will officially launch on 10 June 2025. The event will take place during a side meeting of the 18th session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
The launch aims to raise awareness of the initiative and highlight its goals. Senior representatives from governments and major organizations in health and disability will speak at the event. They will discuss the importance of health equity, the priorities of the initiative, and how different members will contribute.
Several countries and organizations are supporting the initiative. These include Australia, Germany, Norway, and Sweden, along with the Global Disability Fund, the International Disability Alliance, Christian Blind Mission, Down Syndrome International, Humanity and Inclusion, the International Disability and Development Consortium, Sightsavers, Special Olympics, and WHO.
The initiative marks a major step toward global cooperation in addressing health disparities and ensuring inclusive healthcare for all.
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