Programme for Gender Equality, Human Rights and Health Equity

Programme for Gender Equality, Human Rights & Health Equity

WHO’s Programme on Gender Equality, Human Rights and Health Equity strengthens collaboration, coordination and capacity building and learning across the organization; develops and implements technical and policy guidelines, norms, and standards; and support Member States to advance gender equality, human rights and health equity.

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Illustration showing Mother Health depict as a lady with wavy hair flowing in the air, with a red scarf wrapped around her neck and symbols on her clothing.

This year’s theme was chosen to champion the right of everyone, everywhere to have access to quality health services, education, and information

Read about WHO’s progress on the UN System-wide Action Plan (UN-SWAP) on Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (GEEW)

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Publications

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Measurement of self-reported forgone health care and its reasons: towards tackling unmet health care need

Access to needed health services remains a central challenge for achieving universal health coverage, with unmet health care need reflecting gaps in service...

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Report of the 11th Meeting of the WHO Strategic and Technical Advisory Group of Experts for Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health and Nutrition, 10–12 June 2025

This is the report from the 11th meeting (June 10- 12 2025) of the strategic and technical advisory group of experts (STAGE) for maternal newborn child...

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Teodor poses for a portrait at his home in the Busmantsi suburb of Sofia, Bulgaria

Q & A on gender and health

Gender norms, roles and relations, and gender inequality, affect people's health all around the world. This Q&A examines the links between gender and health, highlighting WHO's ongoing work to address gender-related barriers to healthcare.

Documents

This publication defines key concepts and terminology in health, gender identity and sexual diversity, and clarifies their meaning in WHO guidance,...

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A woman from a Maasai community laughs with a WHO health worker

Global plan of action for health of Indigenous Peoples

Indigenous peoples are custodians and practioners of unique cultures and ways of relatig to people and the environment. In May 2023, the 76th World Health Assembly adopted Resolution 76.16 on the health of Indigenous Peoples.

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12 July 2024

Departmental update

First steps taken towards a Global Plan of Action for the Health of Indigenous Peoples

20 June 2024

Departmental update

Update on the Guideline Development Group on the health of trans and gender diverse people

15 January 2024

Departmental update

Extended deadline for feedback on development of a WHO guideline on the health of trans and gender diverse people

29 May 2023

Departmental update

Historic resolution calls for action to improve the health of Indigenous Peoples

World Health Day 2024: My health, my right

WHO’s progress on UN-SWAP GEEW

Resources

Special Programming Initiatives (SPIs)

Our work

Publications

Measurement of self-reported forgone health care and its reasons: towards tackling unmet health care...

Report of the 11th Meeting of the WHO Strategic and Technical Advisory Group of Experts for Maternal,...

Questions & answers

Documents

Frequently asked questions on sexual and gender diversity, health and human rights: an introduction to...

Spotlight

News

World Health Day 2024: My health, my right

World Health Day 2024: My health, my right

2023 Human Rights Day poster: Health is a human right

You have the right to make decisions about your own health

You have the right to privacy and confidentiality of your health information

You have the right to safe and quality health care without any discrimination

You have the right to information about your treatment, and to informed consent

You have the right to bodily autonomy and integrity

Events

Multimedia

Rural women are 37% of the agricultural force

Almost twice as many babies are born to adolescent girls in rural areas than in urban areas

Rural women play important roles as health and care workers in their communities

Let's amplify the voices of rural women to advance health-related Sustainable Development Goals

There is no place for discrimination, racism and inequality in healthcare

People of African descent play a significant role in public health

People of African descent may experience racism or discrimination in healthcare settings?

Let's stop health inequities

Indigenous Peoples have the right to their traditional medicines

We support the well-being of Indigenous Peoples around the world and celebrate their diversity

International Women's Day 2022 - Sustainable future

International Women's Day 2022 - Leadership

Gender equality: We must do better, and we can

Dr Tedros on Health and gender equality

Ensure dignified and respectful care during childbirth

Gender incongruence

Feature stories

Related health topics

Commentaries