WHA77 Side Event: Charting Alcohol Policy Progress Around the World

Date

May 31, 2024

Time

12.30 – 13.45 CEST

Light, healthy lunch is available from 12.00.

Venue

InterContinental Genève

7-9 Chemin du Petit-Saconnex, 1209 Geneva, Switzerland

Co-sponsors

Ministry of Social Affairs Estonia, Ministry of Health Ghana, Ministry of Health Latvia, Movendi International, Ministry of Health Lesotho, Ministry of Health and Population Nepal, Ministry of Health and Care Services Norway, Department of Health Philippines, Ministry of Health Slovenia, Ministry of Health Sri Lanka, Thai Health Promotion Foundation (Thailand), Ministry of Health Zambia, Planet Youth (Iceland)

Background

In May 2022, the World Health Assembly adopted the WHO Global Alcohol Action Plan. Later that year, the WHO European Region and in 2023 the WHO African region adopted regional alcohol frameworks. In addition to this momentum and political commitment to address alcohol harm, the WHO SAFER Initiative and the RESET Alcohol Initiative are supporting countries to develop and implement world-class alcohol policy solutions to achieve health and development goals.

From academic research there is also momentum as the full scale and burden of alcohol harm comes ever clearer into view.

Countries around the world are taking action, often with serious alcohol industry opposition, but also often with substantial public support.

Two years after the adoption of the WHO Global Alcohol Action Plan the 77^th World Health Assembly is a milestone opportunity to take stock and chart the alcohol policy progress around the world.

Objectives

1. This high-level side event at the 77^th World Health Assembly aims to chart efforts to develop and implement world-class alcohol policy around the world. This is important to facilitate best practice and experience exchange.
2. The event will explore lessons learned and map key challenges in developing and implementing evidence-based and ambitious alcohol policy solutions to discuss how to overcome them and make real progress.
3. With this discussion, the event is a timely contribution towards the full implementation of the WHO Global Alcohol Action Plan and how partnerships can facilitate this progress.

Audience

The target audience of this high-level WHA77 side event is member states participants in the WHA77, UN organizations experts, as well as leaders of civil society organizations and academia, and journalists dealing with global health matters.

Program

Moderator: Ilona Kickbusch, Professor, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva

• Welcome and setting the scene remarks by the moderator
• High-level segment: Charting alcohol policy making efforts worldwide – what and why?
  • Dr Bernard Okoe-Boye, Minister of Health, Ghana
  • Dr Sangeeta Kaushal Mishra, Director General, DoHS, Ministry of Health and Population, Nepal
  • Ms Jana Feldmane, Director, Public Health Department, Ministry of Health, Latvia
  • Catherine Marie Lofthus, Secretary General, Ministry of Health and Care Services, Norway
  • Dr Asala Gunawardhana, Director General, Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka
  • Dr Gloria Balboa, Undersecretary, Department of Health, Philippines
  • TBC, Ministry of Health, Zambia
  • Dr. Rüdiger Krech, Director of Health Promotion, World Health Organisation
  • Dr. Devora Kestel, Director of Mental Health and Substance Use, World Health Organisation

• Interactive segment with perspectives from Member States, civil society, academia: Towards full implementation of the WHO GAAP – lessons learned and how to succeed?
  • Dr Vesna-Kerstin Petric, Head of the Office for Cooperation with WHO at the Ministry of Health of Slovenia, and member of the WHO Executive Board
  • Mokhothu Joseph Makhalanyane, Chair of chair persons, National Assembly, Lesotho
  • Mr. Rungsun Munkong, International Relations Expert, Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth), Thailand
  • Kristina Sperkova, International President, Movendi International,
  • Jon Sigfusson, Chairperson, Planet Youth, Iceland
• Questions and answers
• Summary and Closing, by moderator

Other information

• Lunch catering will be provided from 12.00
• Web-streaming will be available

Registration link

Due to the limited number of seats and high interest, please register your participation before the event by using the following link: Movendi Connect Event Registration.