World Health OrganizationWorld Health OrganizationWHO Gender PolicyWHO Gender Policy

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Background of WHOBackground of WHO

United Nations agency for health

Established 1948 Geneva, Switzerland Governed by 193 member states Regional and country offices Dr Anders Nordstrom (DG)

United Nations agency for health

Established 1948 Geneva, Switzerland Governed by 193 member states Regional and country offices Dr Anders Nordstrom (DG)

WHO Gender Policy (2002)

WHO Gender Policy (2002)

Integrate gender considerations into all facets of its work Headquarters Regions Country offices

Gender mainstreaming as standard practice All policies and programs Senior management to ensure implementation

Gender and Women’s Health Department

Integrate gender considerations into all facets of its work Headquarters Regions Country offices

Gender mainstreaming as standard practice All policies and programs Senior management to ensure implementation

Gender and Women’s Health Department

Background & Rationale for WHO

Gender Policy

Background & Rationale for WHO

Gender Policy Differences in factors that determine health and burden of ill-health for women and men Long been overlooked

Gender roles & unequal gender relations key

Interact with other social and economic variables

Result: different & inequitable patterns health risk access to and utilization of health information Access to care and services

Differences in factors that determine health and burden of ill-health for women and men Long been overlooked

Gender roles & unequal gender relations key

Interact with other social and economic variables

Result: different & inequitable patterns health risk access to and utilization of health information Access to care and services

Gender Mainstreaming in Health Care SystemsGender Mainstreaming

in Health Care Systems Goal: ensure that health care systems respond adequately to gender inequality

“Adding in” a gender component late in a project Simply not enough

Gender must be a key component from the beginning

Goal: ensure that health care systems respond adequately to gender inequality

“Adding in” a gender component late in a project Simply not enough

Gender must be a key component from the beginning

Gender from the Beginning

Gender from the Beginning

Aspects in which gender must be addressed research interventions health system reforms health education health outreach health policies and programs

Gender Mainstreaming is key

Aspects in which gender must be addressed research interventions health system reforms health education health outreach health policies and programs

Gender Mainstreaming is key

ObjectivesObjectives The attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health

Defines health as a state of complete well-being Physical Mental Social

Not merely the absence of disease or infirmity

The attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health

Defines health as a state of complete well-being Physical Mental Social

Not merely the absence of disease or infirmity

Goal: Planning, Implementation, Monitoring,

& Evaluation

Goal: Planning, Implementation, Monitoring,

& Evaluation Improving interventions

Effectiveness and efficiency Promote equity and equality between men & women

Provide information about the influence of gender on health and health care Qualitative & quantitative

Create gender responsive policies Implementation and evaluation of policies & projects

Improving interventions Effectiveness and efficiency

Promote equity and equality between men & women

Provide information about the influence of gender on health and health care Qualitative & quantitative

Create gender responsive policies Implementation and evaluation of policies & projects

Assess Gender Differences & Their

Impact On:

Assess Gender Differences & Their

Impact On: Protective & risk factors Access to health-related resources

Information, education, technology Social and cultural conditions of disease

Response of health systems & services

Roles of men and women as health care providers Formal and informal

Protective & risk factors Access to health-related resources

Information, education, technology Social and cultural conditions of disease

Response of health systems & services

Roles of men and women as health care providers Formal and informal

Integrating Gender Perspectives into the

Work of the WHO

Integrating Gender Perspectives into the

Work of the WHO Requires commitment of all WHO staff Applies to all aspects & projects of WHO

Research Program planning Implementation Monitoring Evaluation Human resource management Budgeting Technical cooperation activities with countries

Requires commitment of all WHO staff Applies to all aspects & projects of WHO

Research Program planning Implementation Monitoring Evaluation Human resource management Budgeting Technical cooperation activities with countries

Gender Unit of WHO: Ensuring

Implementation

Gender Unit of WHO: Ensuring

Implementation Collaboration with other departments & regional offices

Collect disaggregated data by sex Review gender aspects of specific areas

Initiate work to develop content-specific materials for training

Collaboration with other departments & regional offices

Collect disaggregated data by sex Review gender aspects of specific areas

Initiate work to develop content-specific materials for training

Task ForceTask Force

Appointment of senior level Task Force to facilitate and support implementation of gender

Task Force reports progress made by regional and country offices directly to Director General

Appointment of senior level Task Force to facilitate and support implementation of gender

Task Force reports progress made by regional and country offices directly to Director General

Desired ResultsDesired Results

Addressing gender issues for improvements Coverage Effectiveness Efficiency Impact of health interventions for women & men

Improved health contributes to achievement of broader UN goals Social justice Gender equality

Addressing gender issues for improvements Coverage Effectiveness Efficiency Impact of health interventions for women & men

Improved health contributes to achievement of broader UN goals Social justice Gender equality

Gender Equality within WHO

Gender Equality within WHO

Committed to bridging the gender gap by the end of 2010 Own workforce

Internal taskforces

Scientific & technical advisory bodies

Temporary advisors & consultants Especially academics

Committed to bridging the gender gap by the end of 2010 Own workforce

Internal taskforces

Scientific & technical advisory bodies

Temporary advisors & consultants Especially academics

Six Regional OfficesSix Regional Offices

Americas -- Washington, D.C Africa -- Brazzaville Eastern Mediterranean -- Cairo

Europe -- Copenhagen South East Asia -- New Delhi Western Pacific -- Manila

Americas -- Washington, D.C Africa -- Brazzaville Eastern Mediterranean -- Cairo

Europe -- Copenhagen South East Asia -- New Delhi Western Pacific -- Manila

Regional InitiativesRegional Initiatives

Incorporating gender perspectives through training courses for health professionals Sample courses:

Integrating Gender into Medical Education

Transforming Health Systems: Integrating Gender and Rights in Reproductive Health

Incorporating gender perspectives through training courses for health professionals Sample courses:

Integrating Gender into Medical Education

Transforming Health Systems: Integrating Gender and Rights in Reproductive Health

Regional InitiativesRegional Initiatives Intended to support country priorities

Examples: Strengthening health sector responses to gender-based violence in SE Asia

Measuring & monitoring gender equity in health

Sex-disaggregated health statistics Gender and Women’s Health Unit for support in developing and implementation of indicators

Intended to support country priorities

Examples: Strengthening health sector responses to gender-based violence in SE Asia

Measuring & monitoring gender equity in health

Sex-disaggregated health statistics Gender and Women’s Health Unit for support in developing and implementation of indicators