https://www.genderhealthhub.org/

Gender & Health Hub, Kuala Lumpur (2026)

09/04/2026

🎙️ 𝗘𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝟯 | 𝗨𝗡𝗨‑𝗜𝗜𝗚𝗛 𝘅 𝗕𝗠𝗝 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀

UNU‑IIGH and BMJ conclude our three‑part podcast series, 𝙂𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙂𝙡𝙤𝙗𝙖𝙡 𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙝: 𝙍𝙚𝙘𝙡𝙖𝙞𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙁𝙪𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚, with a forward‑looking conversation on what it will take to build truly equitable health systems.

In 𝗘𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝟯: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 – 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗘𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀, we move from diagnosis to solutions. Instead of asking what went wrong, we explore how global health can get it right, and what a gender‑transformative future could look like.

Guiding the conversation are:
• 𝗔𝘀𝗵𝗮 𝗚𝗲𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗲, Professor of Public Health, University of the Western Cape
• 𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗮 𝗥𝗶𝗵𝗮, Policy Research Lead for Gender Equality & Intersectionality, UNU‑IIGH

They are joined by:
• 𝗔𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗮 𝗭𝗮𝗶𝗱𝗶, President, Gender Equality Division, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
• 𝗝𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻, Founder & Senior Advisor, Menstrual Rights Global
• 𝗡𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗚𝗮𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗻, Secretary of Health, Mexico City
• 𝗠𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲 𝗞𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗹, Co‑founder, Women in Global Health Egypt & founder, Your Egyptian Doula
• 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗲 𝗕𝘆𝗮𝗻𝘆𝗶𝗺𝗮, Executive Director, UNAIDS
• 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗮𝗿 𝗞𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗼, UNICEF Representative, Ethiopia

Together, they chart a path toward health systems that are not only gender‑sensitive but gender‑transformative systems that advance justice, redistribute power, and place communities at the heart of decision‑making.

This final episode offers a bold and practical blueprint for the next chapter of global health, one where care is valued, gender equality is non‑negotiable, and preparedness begins with investing in those who sustain our societies.

It is a vision for a more equitable 2026 and beyond, grounded in solidarity, justice, and the transformative power of gender‑responsive policymaking.

🎧 Listen to 𝗘𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝟯: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 – 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗘𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀: https://go.unu.edu/ajTmB

01/04/2026

🎙️ 𝗘𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝟮 | 𝗨𝗡𝗨‑𝗜𝗜𝗚𝗛 𝘅 𝗕𝗠𝗝 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀

UNU‑IIGH and BMJ continue the conversation with the second episode of our three‑part podcast series, 𝙂𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙂𝙡𝙤𝙗𝙖𝙡 𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙝: 𝙍𝙚𝙘𝙡𝙖𝙞𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙁𝙪𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚.

𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘭𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘭 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘊𝘖𝘝𝘐𝘋‑19 𝘴𝘰 “𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳‑𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘥,” 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘥𝘰 𝘸𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯?

In 𝗘𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝟮: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝘀𝘁 – 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗖𝗢𝗩𝗜𝗗‑𝟭𝟵 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗸𝘀, we revisit the early years of the pandemic to examine the deep gendered inequities that were overlooked, despite being both predictable and preventable.

Guiding the conversation are:
• 𝗔𝘀𝗵𝗮 𝗚𝗲𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗲, Professor of Public Health, University of the Western Cape
• 𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗮 𝗥𝗶𝗵𝗮, Policy Research Lead for Gender Equality & Intersectionality, UNU‑IIGH

They are joined by:
• 𝗡𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗚𝗮𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗻, Secretary of Health, Mexico City
• 𝗦𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻 𝗛𝗲𝗶𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗶, Founder & Executive Director, GENDRO
• 𝗝𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻, Founder & Senior Advisor, Menstrual Rights Global
• 𝗞𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗻 𝗕𝗮𝗯𝗯𝗮𝗿, Research Advisor & Board Member, Menstrual Rights Global
• 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘀𝗼𝘀𝗼, Co‑chair, Intergovernmental Negotiating Body for the new Pandemic Agreement & former Director‑General of Health, South Africa

Together, they unpack how the pandemic response overlooked the realities faced by women, despite women carrying the greatest burden as frontline health workers, caregivers, and community responders.

This conversation offers a clear and sobering reminder: progress is not guaranteed. Without systemic, institutionalized change, the world risks repeating the same mistakes in future health emergencies.

The speakers call for a re‑imagined global health architecture, one that finally protects caregivers, values women’s labor, and centres gender justice as a non‑negotiable pillar of preparedness and response.

🎧 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗘𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝟮: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝘀𝘁 – 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗖𝗢𝗩𝗜𝗗‑𝟭𝟵 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗸𝘀: https://go.unu.edu/ajTmB

26/03/2026

🎙️️ 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗨𝗡𝗨‑𝗜𝗜𝗚𝗛 𝘅 𝗕𝗠𝗝 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 | 𝗘𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝟭

In the opening episode of our new series, experts step directly into one of the most urgent conversations shaping global health today: the mounting backlash against women’s health and gender equality and what this means for societies already strained by conflict, inequality, and shrinking civic space.

Guiding this discussion are 𝗔𝘀𝗵𝗮 𝗚𝗲𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗲, Professor of Public Health at the University of the Western Cape, and 𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗮 𝗥𝗶𝗵𝗮, UNU‑IIGH’s Policy Research Lead for Gender Equality and Intersectionality. Together, they create space for an honest, grounded, and deeply informed exchange.

They are joined by voices at the forefront of global leadership and feminist advocacy:
• 𝗝𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗺𝘆 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝗿, Chief Scientist at WHO, reflects on the erosion of public trust and the political pressures reshaping health systems.
• 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗲 𝗕𝘆𝗮𝗻𝘆𝗶𝗺𝗮, Executive Director of UNAIDS, speaks to the widening economic injustices and the structural violence embedded in debt and austerity.
• 𝗬𝗼𝗸𝗲‑𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗲, Executive Director of the Third World Network, brings sharp insight into geopolitics, trade rules, and the long arc ofglobal inequities.
• And from the frontlines of community organising, 𝗠𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲 𝗞𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗹, Co‑founder of Women in Global Health Egypt, challenges us to rethink inclusion and recognise the leadership that already exists in the spaces most affected by crisis.

Together, they unpack how pandemics intensify inequalities, why gender justice and democracy are inseparable, and where pathways for change are emerging—from community‑centred primary health care to renewed forms of global solidarity. This episode is not just a diagnosis of the present. It is a call to protect the hard‑won progress on women’s health, human rights, and public trust—before the window narrows further.

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗘𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝟭 - 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁: 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗹𝗮𝘀𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻’𝘀 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵: https://go.unu.edu/ajTmB

18/03/2026

𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝟭: 𝗩𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗹 | 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝗮𝗿𝗮 𝗛𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀, 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

Last week, UNU-IIGH had the pleasure of convening an open dialogue bringing together 𝗦𝗮𝗿𝗮 𝗛𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗻, Senior Advocate at the Supreme Court of Bangladesh, 𝗚𝗶𝘁𝗮 𝗦𝗲𝗻, Professor at the Public Health Foundation of India and cofounder of DAWN, and 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶 𝗣𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗲𝘆, Director of UNU-IIGH.

Drawing on legal scholarship, feminist analysis, and political economy perspectives, the conversation examined the progressive erosion of legal and normative frameworks that historically underpinned commitments to equity and the protection of women’s rights.

Mobilising insights from the recent political developments, 𝗦𝗮𝗿𝗮 𝗛𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗻 further explored the broader global trend towards an increasingly overt disregard for both international and national legal norms. She highlighted how the growing influence of authoritarian governance models, resurgent political movements, and discursive narratives framed around moral or cultural imperatives have effectively positioned questions of gender, sexuality, and bodily autonomy as salient arenas of political contestation.

In light of these dynamics, the speakers underscored the importance of rethinking prevailing activist strategies. Moving beyond sporadic, needs-based interventions and an exclusive reliance on normative mechanisms, they emphasised the necessity of strengthening social mobilisation and deepening community-level engagement. Such approaches were highlighted as essential for navigating structural constraints while simultaneously harnessing emergent opportunities to advance women’s rights and gender equality within increasingly complex and challenging political environments.

For more information, see the 𝗨𝗡𝗨-𝗜𝗜𝗚𝗛 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗽𝗮𝗴𝗲: https://go.unu.edu/Wd7Vh

To watch the 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿: https://go.unu.edu/lRt5p

03/03/2026

𝗨𝗽𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗪𝗲𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿 | 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝗮𝗿𝗮 𝗛𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀, 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

Across regions, gender equality and women’s rights are facing renewed and increasingly coordinated pushbacks, as political movements, authoritarian governance models, and narratives framed as moral or cultural imperatives increasingly position gender, sexuality, and bodily autonomy as sites of political contestation. These dynamics shape laws, policies, institutions, and everyday lives, with profound consequences for women, gender-diverse persons, and broader social cohesion.

In this context, UNU-IIGH is convening the webinar “𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝗮𝗿𝗮 𝗛𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀, 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻”, to bring together legal, feminist, and political economy perspectives from the Global South to explore how gender justice is challenged, defended, and re-imagined in contexts of shrinking civic space and rising authoritarianism.

📆 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲: March 11th, 2026
⏰ 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲: 13:30 IST| 14:00 BST| 16:00 MYT
🔗 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲: https://go.unu.edu/SLmFS

The conversation will explore how backlash operates not only via overt acts of repression but also through legislative reforms, judicial interpretations, administrative practices, and social norms that legitimise exclusion, perpetuate silencing, and constrain critical expression.

Drawing on experiences from the Global South, it will further reflect on both constraints and possibilities, including instances where progress has stalled or reversed, and cases where creative strategies - such as legal, institutional, and community-based actions - have sustained or advanced women’s rights and gender equality amid challenging political environments.

03/03/2026

𝗪𝗲𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗿𝗲́𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗲𝗻 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗲̀𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗲 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗱𝗲 𝗹𝘂𝘁𝘁𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗲 𝗩𝗜𝗛, 𝗹𝗮 𝘁𝘂𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗲𝘁 𝗹𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗺𝗲

La semaine dernière, l'UNU-IIGH a organisé un webinaire de lancement d'une r***e rapide portant sur les 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗿𝗲́𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗲𝗻 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗲̀𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗲 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗱𝗲 𝗹𝘂𝘁𝘁𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗲 𝗩𝗜𝗛, 𝗹𝗮 𝘁𝘂𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗲𝘁 𝗹𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗺𝗲.

Un panel d'experts, composé d' 𝗔𝘄𝗮 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹-𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗸, 𝗔𝗻𝗷𝗮𝗻𝗮 𝗕𝗵𝘂𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗻, 𝗦𝗮𝗽𝗻𝗮 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗿𝗮, 𝗔𝗻𝗱𝘆 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗲, 𝗘𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗼𝗺𝗼 𝗢𝗴𝗯𝗲, 𝗠𝗹𝘂𝗹𝗲𝗸𝗶 𝗭𝗮𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗶 et 𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗮 𝗥𝗶𝗵𝗮, a échangé sur les principales conclusions de l'étude, visant à encourager un engagement intersectoriel pour renforcer les interventions axées sur le genre dans les programmes de lutte contre ces maladies.

Soulignant que les approches biomédicales seules ne suffisent pas à éliminer le VIH, la tuberculose et le paludisme, les membres du panel ont démontré que la réalisation des objectifs mondiaux en matière de santé passe impérativement par la prise en compte des facteurs structurels à l'origine des inégalités de genre, notamment les normes sociales néfastes, les lois discriminatoires et les disparités économiques.

Préconisant des interventions multicomposantes, multipartites et participatives - en particulier celles qui vont au-delà de la sensibilisation pour remettre en question les dynamiques de pouvoir genrées sous-jacentes - les intervenants ont également réfléchi à des approches stratégiques, identifié des pratiques prometteuses et partagé des enseignements clés pour améliorer les résultats en matière de santé et d'égalité de genre.

Pour plus d'informations, consultez la 𝗽𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗱𝗲 𝗹'𝗲́𝘃𝗲́𝗻𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗱𝗲 𝗹'𝗨𝗡𝗨-𝗜𝗜𝗚𝗛: https://go.unu.edu/sM9Uo

Pour visionner l'intégralité du 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗲: https://go.unu.edu/Ctg3

Pour lire le 𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘁: https://go.unu.edu/VFK8t

03/03/2026

𝗩𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗹 | 𝗪𝗲𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝗻 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿-𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲/-𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗛𝗜𝗩, 𝗧𝗕, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲𝘀

Last week, UNU-IIGH held the launch webinar of a rapid review on 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿-𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 -𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗛𝗜𝗩, 𝗧𝗕, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲𝘀.

An expert panel – featuring 𝗔𝘄𝗮 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹-𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗸, 𝗔𝗻𝗷𝗮𝗻𝗮 𝗕𝗵𝘂𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗻, 𝗦𝗮𝗽𝗻𝗮 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗿𝗮, 𝗔𝗻𝗱𝘆 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗲, 𝗘𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗼𝗺𝗼 𝗢𝗴𝗯𝗲, 𝗠𝗹𝘂𝗹𝗲𝗸𝗶 𝗭𝗮𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗶, and 𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗮 𝗥𝗶𝗵𝗮 - engaged with the review’s core findings and conclusions, aiming to catalyse cross-sectoral engagement to strengthen gender-focused interventions to end HIV, TB, and Malaria.

Emphasising how biomedical approaches alone emerge as insufficient to eliminate these diseases, panelists demonstrated how achieving global health goals requires addressing the structural drivers of gender inequality, including harmful social norms, discriminatory laws, and economic disparities.

Advocating for multicomponent, multistakeholder led, and participatory interventions - particularly those that move beyond awareness to challenge underlying gender power dynamics – the speakers further reflected on strategic approaches, identified promising practices, and shared key lessons for improving health and gender-related outcomes.

For more information, see the 𝗨𝗡𝗨-𝗜𝗜𝗚𝗛 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗽𝗮𝗴𝗲: https://go.unu.edu/sM9Uo

To watch the 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿: https://go.unu.edu/Ctg3h

To read the 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁: https://go.unu.edu/11uBm

24/02/2026

𝗣𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗮𝗹 | 𝗪𝗲𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝗻 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿-𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲/-𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗛𝗜𝗩, 𝗧𝗕, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲𝘀

The UNU-IIGH is delighted to convene the launch webinar of a rapid review on “𝙂𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧-𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙫𝙚/-𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙃𝙄𝙑, 𝙏𝘽, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙈𝙖𝙡𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙖 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙨.” This review highlights strategic approaches, identifies promising practices, and distills key lessons for designing and implementing more effective gender-focused interventions in HIV, TB, and malaria programmes.

📆 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲: February 25th, 2026
⏰ 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲: 09:00 GMT | 12:00 EAT | 17:00 MYT
🔗 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲: https://go.unu.edu/WGt6p

The panel will be composed of:

• 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶 𝗣𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗲𝘆, Director of the UNU-IIGH and former Global Director for Health and Nutrition of Save the Children International.

• 𝗔𝘄𝗮 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹-𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗸, President of the Forum Galien Africa and leading expert in Infectious Diseases and Bacteriology-Virology. She has served twice as Minister of Health in Senegal and was conferred the WHO Director-General’s Award for Global Health in 2025.

• 𝗔𝗻𝗷𝗮𝗻𝗮 𝗕𝗵𝘂𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗻, independent consultant with former experience providing technical leadership and evidence-based advice to WHO’s Member States.

• 𝗦𝗮𝗽𝗻𝗮 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗿𝗮, Policy Research Associate for Gender Equality and Intersectionality at UNU-IIGH.

• 𝗔𝗻𝗱𝘆 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗲, cross-cutting HIV expert in the WHO department of HIV, tuberculosis, hepatitis, and sexually transmitted infections.

• 𝗘𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗼𝗺𝗼 𝗢𝗴𝗯𝗲, medical doctor and researcher, currently part of the EU Disaster Bioethics Working group.

• 𝗠𝗹𝘂𝗹𝗲𝗸𝗶 𝗭𝗮𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗶, National director of the National Association of People living With HIV and AIDS (NAPWA).

• 𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗮 𝗥𝗶𝗵𝗮, epidemiologist and Policy Research Lead for Gender Equality and Intersectionality at UNU-IIGH.

To read the 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁: https://go.unu.edu/11uBm
To read the 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆: https://go.unu.edu/FcJw1

Make sure to join us for the launch or watch the recording here: https://go.unu.edu/Ctg3h

12/02/2026

𝗨𝗽𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗪𝗲𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿 | 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿-𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲/-𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗛𝗜𝗩, 𝗧𝗕, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲𝘀: 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘄𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲-𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲?

The UNU-IIGH is delighted to convene the launch webinar of a rapid review on “𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿-𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲/-𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗛𝗜𝗩, 𝗧𝗕, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲𝘀.”

This review highlights strategic approaches, identifies promising practices, and distills key lessons for designing and implementing more effective gender-focused interventions in HIV, TB, and malaria programmes.

📆 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲: February 25th, 2026
⏰ 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲: 09:00 GMT | 12:00 EAT | 17:00 MYT
🔗 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲: https://go.unu.edu/WGt6p

HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria persist as principal drivers of infectious disease morbidity and mortality, disproportionately affecting the most marginalised and poorest populations in LMICs, particularly women, girls, and gender-diverse communities. Achieving global goals to end these diseases rests upon the maximisation of health equity, gender equality, and human rights.

Nevertheless, recent cuts in international aid, geopolitical instability, widening inequalities, COVID-19's pervasive impacts, and climate change, are starting to reverse decades of progress made in tackling these diseases. Thus, leveraging the evidence base of existing gender-responsive and -transformative interventions that demonstrably improve health- and gender-related outcomes appears crucial.

This launch event will convene authors, researchers, policymakers, and a diverse audience to engage with the review’s core findings and conclusions, aiming to catalyse cross-sectoral engagement to strengthen gender-focused interventions to end HIV, TB, and Malaria.

14/01/2026

𝗩𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗹 | 𝗪𝗲𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗪𝗲 𝗔𝗱𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗩𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀

𝘌𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 60% 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮 𝘰𝘧 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦

Last December, UNU-IIGH's 𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗮 𝗥𝗶𝗵𝗮 and RESADE’s 𝗔𝗿𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲 𝗭𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗼 co-hosted an open dialogue with 𝗗𝗿. 𝗔𝗯𝗶 𝗕𝗮𝗱𝗿𝘂 to explore actionable strategies to effectively protect primary healthcare workers from gendered workplace violence and harassment.

As a project coordinator for Public Services International, Abi Badru emphasized that while women comprise the majority of the healthcare workforce, they remain particularly vulnerable to violence and harassment due to entrenched occupational hierarchies, restrictive societal norms, and reflected power inequalities.

Discussing potential interventions, Abi Badru notably highlighted the vital role of labor unions in advocating for decent work conditions, securing enforceable protections through collective bargaining, reporting incidents, and pushing for the ratification of international labor standards, such as the 𝗜𝗟𝗢 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝟭𝟵𝟬. Advocating for shifting the responsibility of safety from the individual worker to institutional and government agendas, she argued for holistic gender-transformative reforms to effectively ensure the rights, dignity and safety of primary healthcare workers. These transformative measures notably included gender-responsive risk assessments, improved facility security, and the inclusion of women in high-level decision-making processes.

The dialogue concluded by underscoring the need for human-centered, evidence-based advocacy, as well as the effective leveraging of workers’ direct testimonies to expose systemic failures and drive institutional reform.

To watch the 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJBpRYE3XlM

04/12/2025

𝗩𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗛𝗪 𝗦𝘆𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘂𝗺 𝗣𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗹 | 𝗥𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗪𝗲 𝗔𝗱𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗩𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲: 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗖𝗛𝗪𝘀

Two weeks ago, 𝗨𝗡𝗨-𝗜𝗜𝗚𝗛'𝘀 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗛𝘂𝗯 co-organised with the 𝗜𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗮 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘂𝗺 (𝗜𝗡𝗦𝗣, 𝗜𝗛𝗜, 𝗨𝗪𝗖, 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗔𝗗𝗘) the virtual event “𝙍𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙒𝙚 𝘼𝙙𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙂𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙠𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙑𝙞𝙤𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚: 𝙋𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝘾𝙃𝙒𝙨” on the occasion of the 𝟰𝘁𝗵 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗛𝗪 𝗦𝘆𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘂𝗺.

Surfacing empirical evidence and sharing testimonies of lived experiences, speakers revealed how gender, power, and status intersect to shape the safety of community health workers. Indeed, as a predominantly feminised and frequently informal workforce operating within community settings shaped by power hierarchies and overlapping governance structures, CHWs face highly contextualised and differential forms of vulnerability to violence. These vulnerabilities are further exacerbated by structural challenges such as the normalisation of violence, insufficient legal protection, and weak or absent reporting systems.

In view of the persistent systemic barriers faced by CHWs, panelists highlighted the necessity, amongst others, for:
• Formal Recognition and Protective Policies
• Supportive, Gender-Responsive Supervision
• Community Engagement and Norm Change
• Integrated Multisectoral Protection Systems

For more information, see the 𝗨𝗡𝗨-𝗜𝗜𝗚𝗛 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗴 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁: https://go.unu.edu/RuOOf

04/12/2025

𝗩𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗛𝗪 𝗦𝘆𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘂𝗺 𝗣𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗹 | 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽 𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗛𝗪 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗮 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿-𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗹

Two weeks ago, 𝗨𝗡𝗨-𝗜𝗜𝗚𝗛'𝘀 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗛𝘂𝗯 co-organised with 𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗙 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝘀𝗶𝗮 a virtual workshop on “𝙎𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘾𝙃𝙒 𝙥𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙖 𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧-𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙤𝙤𝙡”, during the 𝟰𝘁𝗵 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗛𝗪 𝗦𝘆𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘂𝗺.

The workshop convened researchers, policymakers, and CHWs to discuss gender-sensitive policies and practices concerning female CHWs in South Asia and deliberate on a 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿-𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝗶𝘀 𝗧𝗼𝗼𝗹, developed collaboratively by UNU-IIGH and UNICEF ROSA.

As discussions reiterated that gender inequality remains one of the most persistent challenges facing CHW policies and programmes in South Asia, all agreed that addressing gendered barriers in the workforce will require multi-level coordinated reforms, the mobilisation of a robust intersectional approach in CHW policy design and implementation, as well as sustained and substantial community engagement.

For more information, see the 𝗨𝗡𝗨-𝗜𝗜𝗚𝗛 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗴 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁: https://go.unu.edu/d14AB

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