Honourable Chair, Distinguished Delegates
The draft resolution on Radiation and Health: Strengthening Global Protection, Preparedness and Response underscores the importance of an integrated, evidence-based approach to protecting patients, workers, and the public from both ionising and non-ionising radiation in routine and emergency situations. Radiological protection is a core public and occupational health function, helping to prevent diseases, reduce exposure, strengthen emergency preparedness and ensure that technological advances benefit society safely.

As exposure patterns evolve and new technologies emerge, coherent, health-centred policies become increasingly essential – supported by robust health risk assessments, effective communication strategies and harmonized protective policies that address public concerns while enabling technological progress.

Effective national systems are essential for managing the use of radiation technologies, securing radioactive sources, ensuring robust emergency preparedness and long-term monitoring of exposures, and implementing clear policies on non-ionising radiation, such as UV, electromagnetic fields, and ultrasound.

Member States rely on scientifically grounded, internationally harmonised protection frameworks. ICRP and ICNIRP provide independent scientific reviews of health effects and scientifically grounded recommendations that inform WHO’s work and support national policy development.

The NSAs mentioned above stand ready to support the WHO to implement this resolution.
Thank you.