This side event, held during the Seventy-ninth World Health Assembly (WHA79), will bring together civil society, global health actors and the WHO Disability Health Equity Network to strengthen collaboration on disability inclusion in the health sector and explore practical ways to integrate disability equity across global health agendas.
Background
Persons with disabilities continue to face persistent health inequities, including barriers to access, affordability, and quality of care. While disability inclusive approaches are increasingly recognized as essential to achieving universal health coverage (UHC) and broader global health goals, meaningful integration across major health agendas remains uneven. This side event responds to this gap by fostering dialogue, sharing evidence, and building alliances between disability advocates and actors working across UHC and related global health processes.
Objectives
The session aims to:
- Introduce the WHO Disability Health Equity Network as an ally in advocacy for UHC.
- Connect members of the WHO Disability Health Equity Network and the broader global health community working on UHC to build relationships and mutual understanding.
- Explore key insights and evidence on health equity for persons with disabilities, including major gaps and opportunities.
- Identify shared priorities, natural alignment points, and practical ways to collaborate across mainstream global health agendas and initiatives.
- Co-create ideas for strengthening disability inclusion within UHC and global health agendas through partnership and collective action.
Date and time
Tuesday 19 May 2026 | 12:00 - 13:30 CEST
Format
The event will be held in a hybrid format, combining in-person participation with online engagement. It will include brief framing interventions, interactive discussion, and opportunities for networking and exchange among participants.
In-person attendees are invited to join this event at the following address:
Civil Society Networking Space (CSEM)
Auditorium de la Pastorale
106 Route de Ferney
Geneva, Switzerland
Accessibility
Details on accessibility features will be shared soon on this webpage.
Registration
Participation in this event requires prior registration. Interested participants are invited to complete the registration form, which will be shared by the organisers in advance of the session. Details regarding in-person attendance and the online participation link will be provided upon registration confirmation.
The registration form will be shared soon on this webpage.
Contact
If you have any questions or comments about this event, please contact us.
More information will be shared on this webpage as it becomes available.
