Women’s health is often narrowly defined as reproductive health, but women and girls are increasingly advocating for a more comprehensive approach to healthcare.
Comprehensive sexual and reproductive health means recognizing that starting from childhood, through adolescence, reproductive years and beyond, there are sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) needs that cumulatively impact quality of life, health and wellbeing.
At the World Health Summit 2023 in Berlin, join WHO, the United Nations Human Reproduction Programme (HRP) and partners for side events and panel sessions providing evidence, tools and a space for solution-oriented discussions advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights across a lifetime.
Following extensive focus on SRHR at the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly and at the FIGO World Congress of Gynecology and Obstetrics, use these key resources to support your participation:
SUNDAY 15 OCTOBER
Side event | 11:00-12:30 |
Room: Cairo Lounge
Invite only
What Role Do Women and Female Health Play in Global Health?
Sexual and reproductive health and rights are a marker of gender inequality. Learn about actions WHO is taking to advance a vision of public health that explicitly grapples with harmful gender norms and inequalities as well as other social, economic, and political factors outside the health system.
MONDAY 16 OCTOBER
Side event | 09:30-11:00 |
Room: Brazzaville Lounge – Register here
Sexual and reproductive health and rights and bodily autonomy in a digital world
Explore the connections between sexual and reproductive health and digital technologies, including global shifts, the potential for potential for positive and negative impact, and how to meet the needs of young people. In particular, the panel will explore the key research and policy dimensions that should be addressed to ensure a gender equality and intersectional approach.
Side event – | 11:00-12:30 |
Room: Africa – Digital session here
Closing the Gender Equality Gap – the New Women’s Health Agenda (PD13)
What are the challenges to ensuring holistic services to women and how can gender-sensitive healthcare policies, interventions, and research can disrupt the current approach and prioritize women’s health concerns while ensuring equitable access to healthcare services?
Side event – | 12:45-13:45 |
Room: Europe – Digital session here
Launch of the Equity 2030 Alliance (PD13A)
Lack of women’s inclusion in all stages of the design and development of innovations in global health leads to gender-blind solutions. Learn about data-driven arguments and strategies for closing the gaps in women-focused and gender-inclusive health solutions in science, technology, and financing by 2030.
Side event – | 16:00-17:30 |
Room: Brazzaville
Youth X Professional
As part of the WHS Youth Side Programme, international students are invited to join this informal conversation on opportunities in public health and global health, including sexual and reproductive health and rights – and the bold leadership required to establish systems that promote gender equality as well as the right to health throughout women’s lives.
TUESDAY 17 OCTOBER
Side event – | 09:00-10:30 |
Room: Manila
Listening Across the Life Course—Women’s Demands for their Health and Well-being
In 2023, 1 million women and girls across the world were asked what they most want for their health and well-being. This side event will share for the first time the results of this collective undertaking. An interactive panel will explore women’s self-identified healthcare needs and how they inform current, moving policy, program, and resource processes from the community to the global level.
Side event – | 11:00-12:30 |
Room: Manila – Register here
United for self-care coalition: self-care as a driver of universal health coverage
This conversation aims to bring together a diverse set of stakeholders with an interest in advocating for self-care as a critical component of the healthcare continuum, particularly in the context of advancing universal health coverage including sexual and reproductive health.
Includes launch: Self-care interventions for sexual and reproductive health and rights to advance universal health coverage: 2023 joint statement by HRP, WHO, UNDP, UNFPA and the World Bank.
