Side event at the 79th World Health Assembly will bring together governments, civil society, and international organizations to strengthen cooperation on participatory health governance.
In line with the mission of implementing Resolution WHA 77.2 on Social Participation, the Brazilian National Health Council and the Minister of Health will promote the side event “The Central Role of Social Participation and Multilateral Cooperation in Advancing Health Sovereignty”, as part of the official program of the 79ª World Health Assembly. The event will be held on May 19, from 7:30 to 9:00 a.m., at the Domaine de la Pastorale Auditorium, Geneva.
Health sovereignty — understood as the right and capacity of a country to define, implement, and govern its public health policies in accordance with its own priorities, values, and context — has gained prominence in a global landscape marked by pandemics, geopolitical crises, growing interdependencies, and challenges in global health governance and funding. The issue is also at the center of Brazil’s 18th National Health Conference, which is expected to mobilize millions of Brazilians in defining priorities for the country’s universal health system.
The relationship between social participation in shaping national priorities and the role of multilateral cooperation will be discussed by government representatives, including Brazil’s Minister of Health, Alexandre Padilha, and other high-level speakers. Supported by Slovenia, France, Thailand, UHC2030, and CSEM, the event will also feature a multistakeholder roundtable presenting diverse international experiences related to participatory health governance and health sovereignty.
Health sovereignty is not solely about manufacturing vaccines or medicines — it is also about who participates in decision-making. As countries shape new models of participatory health governance, there is growing recognition that health-related trade and foreign policies must also be guided by people’s health needs, strengthening both democracy and the right to health.
Resolution WHA 77.2
Through this unprecedented side event, the host and sponsors seek to place participatory governance at the center of global health debates, reinforcing the need for stronger cooperation between governments and civil society, communities and people in a context of growing challenges to multilateralism and global health equity.
The side event also represents another step forward for the group in charge of the implementation of Resolution WHA77.2, which has been promoting different formats of exchange and cooperation, ranging from sharing national experiences to organizing webinars and technical discussions on social participation in health.
Registration and livestream
The event will take place at Domaine de la Pastorale, Route de Ferney 106, Geneva, on 19 May 2026, from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. CET. Due to limited seating capacity, registration does not guarantee participation, and organizers will send confirmations closer to the event date.
National Health Council
