Her Turn: Women’s Leadership and Diplomacy for Gender-Responsive Global Health

At a time when global health systems are facing growing inequalities and complex transnational challenges, the need for inclusive and gender-responsive leadership has never been more urgent. Through this Her Turn initiative, GWL Voices, in collaboration with the World Health Alliance, seeks to elevate the role of women in shaping global health governance and diplomacy. Despite representing the majority of the global health workforce, women remain underrepresented in the leadership and decision-making spaces where international health priorities and policies are defined, limiting the ability of institutions to fully address the needs and experiences of women across the life cycle.

This World Health Assembly side event will convene senior leaders, policymakers, and emerging youth voices to explore how diplomacy and multilateral engagement can strengthen women’s leadership and advance more equitable global health systems. Through an intergenerational dialogue, participants will reflect on the role of institutions such as the WHO, UN processes, and global partnerships in promoting gender-responsive policymaking, while also creating space to inspire and empower the next generation of leaders to actively engage in global health diplomacy and governance.

PARTICIPANTS

Dr. Flavia Bustreo, GWL Voices member and part of the PMNCH Governance and Ethics Committee

Ms. Helen Clark, GWL Voices member, PMNCH member

Mr. Rajat Khosla, PMNCH executive director

Dr. Revati Phalkey, Director of the United Nations University Institute for Global Health (UNU-IIGH)

Dr. Magda Róbalo, President of Women in Global Health

Ms. Clara Cabrera Brasero, Deputy Permanent Representative of Spain to the United Nations in Geneva

Katherine Urbaez - Health Diplomacy Alliance (moderator)

This is an in-person event, and to attend you must register to attend.