Chair, Distinguished Delegates,

Gender equity must be central to achieving health-related SDGs—not only as a matter of justice but as a foundation for effective, inclusive, and resilient health systems.

Women make up approximately 70% of the global health and care workforce but hold only 25% of leadership roles. They remain the face of poverty and HIV/AIDS, shoulder the burden of unpaid domestic work, and suffer high rates of gender-based violence. Cervical and breast cancer are rising, and maternal mortality remains high—symptoms of a persistent gender gap that weakens global health outcomes and hinders Universal Health Coverage. It is time to dismantle the structural barriers that exclude women, particularly those from the Global South, from decision-making.

Health is a human right and a driver of development. Over 1.4 billion women and girls lack access to essential services, including sexual and reproductive health, maternal care, and mental health. We cannot achieve SDG 3 without addressing systemic gender inequities. The link between SDG 3 and SDG 5 is clear: resilient health systems depend on gender equality. Yet women are leaving the workforce due to burnout, inequity, and the Global South-to-North migration—threatening global progress. To meet global health goals, we must move from words to action—building gender-responsive systems that are not only resilient, but also prevention-focused, reducing both crises and costs.

We urge Member States to:
1) Invest in the health and care workforce with a focus on fair pay, decent working conditions, and recognition of unpaid care work
2) Mainstream gender equity across all health policies and financing frameworks
3) Ensure women’s participation and leadership in health governance