Global health and foreign policy: strengthening health system
resilience through affordable health care for all
A/RES/75/130
Recalling the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1 the International
Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, 2 the International Convention on
the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, 3 the Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, 4 the Convention on the
Rights of the Child, 5 the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, 6 the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights 7 and relevant provisions of
international humanitarian law,
Recalling also that the Constitution of the World Health Organization 8 defines
health as a state of complete physical, mental and social well -being and not merely
the absence of disease or infirmity, and declares that the enjoyment of the highest
attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human b eing,
without distinction of race, religion, political belief, economic or social condition,
Noting the significance role of the Foreign Policy and Global Health Initiative
in promoting synergies between foreign policy and global health, as well as the
contribution of the Oslo Ministerial Declaration of 20 March 2007, entitled “Global
health: a pressing foreign policy issue of our time”, 9 which was reaffirmed, with
renewed actions and commitments, in the ministerial communiqué of the Initiative
entitled “Renewing 10 years of concerted efforts and preparing for new challenges”,
of 22 September 2017, 10
Recognizing that States have the primary responsibility for the creation of
national and international conditions favourable to the realization of the right to
development and should ensure, inter alia, equality of opportunity for all in their
access to basic resources, such as health services, food, housing, employment and the
fair distribution of income,
Recalling the outcome of the high-level meeting on universal health coverage,
and reaffirming its political declaration, entitled “Universal health coverage: moving
together to build a healthier world”, 11 which reiterated, inter alia, the importance of
scaling up the global effort to leave no one behind and to build a healthier world for
all, as well as accelerating efforts towards the achievement of universal health
coverage by 2030 to ensure healthy lives and promote well -being for all throughout
the life course,
Reiterating the importance of national ownership and the primary role and
responsibility of governments at all levels to determine their own path towards
achieving universal health coverage, in accordance with national contexts and
priorities, which is critical for minimizing public health hazards and vulnerabilities
as well as delivering effective prevention, surveillance, early warning, response and
recovery in health emergencies, and emphasizing the essential role of resilient health
systems in disaster risk reduction, as recognized in the Sendai Framework for Disaster
Risk Reduction 2015–2030, 12
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Resolution 217 A (III).
See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex.
United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 660, No. 9464.
Ibid., vol. 1249, No. 20378.
Ibid., vol. 1577, No. 27531.
Ibid., vol. 2515, No. 44910.
See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex.
United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 14, No. 221.
A/63/591, annex.
A/72/559, annex.
Resolution 74/2.
Resolution 69/283, annex II.
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