On September 22, 2021 Movendi International received the United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on the Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases Award in recognition of “advocacy work to protect people from harm due to alcohol”.
Movendi International is the first civil society organization working to prevent NCDs through alcohol policy to receive this award. We celebrate this win with our heart-driven 130+ member organizations, without whom this award would not have been a reality. The award is made even more special since Movendi International is celebrating 170 years of service this year.
The virtual award ceremony took place at a high-level side event during the UN General Assembly. The ceremony was conducted by Deputy Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Dr. Zsuzsanna Jakab.
Watch the event and award ceremony
You can watch the full event on UN web TV, here.
Message from Kristina Sperkova, International President, Movendi International
Elated, honored, inspired and encouraged.”
Kristina Sperkova, International President, Movendi International
We are elated to receive this prestigious award.
We thank the UN Interagency Task Force on NCDs for the recognition of our achievements. This would not be possible without the heart-driven work of our 130+ member organizations working in countries around the world to prevent NCDs through alcohol policy advocacy.
It’s an amazing honor to receive this award as the first civil society organization working to prevent NCDs through alcohol policy. Receiving this award this year is double special, as we celebrate our 170th anniversary.
We feel inspired by the work of all the other awardees this and previous years. And we feel encouraged to continue and further improve our work to support communities and governments in alcohol policy development and to protect these efforts against alcohol industry interference.”Alcohol policy solutions, especially alcohol taxation, are powerful catalysts to promote health and beat NCDs. We will use the inspiration from this award to step up our work further, for example to help WHO and Member States to develop an ambitious global alcohol action plan.
Kristina Sperkova, International President, Movendi International
About UNIATF on NCDs and the awards
The United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on the Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases (UNIATF), coordinates the activities of the UN and inter-governmental organizations to support governments respond to the NCD-related SDGs.
The Task Force brings the United Nations system and other inter-governmental organizations together to support governments meet the NCD-related SDG commitments made at the United Nations General Assembly and the World Health Assembly, including the WHO Global NCD Action Plan 2013–2030.
The Task Force was established by the UN Secretary-General in June, 2013 and placed under the WHO’s leadership. It reports each year to the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC).
This is the fourth year for the United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on the Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases Award.
The award is given to candidates who meet the following criteria:
- Demonstrate an outstanding contribution to multisectoral action in the prevention and control of NCDs, mental health or other NCD-related SDGs at a local, national, regional or international level.
- The ability to:
- Create new and innovative approaches and activities;
- Lead the agenda and work with partners;
- Mobilize resources, knowledge and expertise;
- Meet challenges and overcome significant obstacles;
- Act as an exemplar to others.
In 2021 there were 19 winners, in 3 categories (Ministry of health or government agency under the health ministry, ministries/ government agencies beyond health, and non-state actors, such as civil society, academia or philanthropy).
Among the other 2021 awardees were: Health Service Executive Ireland; Department of Health, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand; Public Health England; National Broadcasting Corporation Zambia; and National Assembly of Armenia.