- Published on 6 June 2023
The World Health Assembly adopted the Resolution ‘Accelerating Action on Global Drowning Prevention’
On May 29th, 2023, the World Health Assembly (WHA) adopted its first-ever resolution on drowning prevention in Geneva, Switzerland.
The Assembly, the decision-making body of the World Health Organization (WHO), discussed and adopted WHA resolution ‘Accelerating Action on Global Drowning Prevention’ proposed by the Governments of Bangladesh and Ireland, and co-sponsored by at least 72 Member States.
This first WHA resolution is an important milestone for the issue of drowning prevention. It builds on the progress and momentum to accelerate action to reduce this preventable cause of mortality and long-term injury and disability, secured by the adoption of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution on Global Drowning Prevention, in April 2021.
The WHA resolution reinforces the key elements of the UNGA resolution, and crucially, provides recognition, and acceptance of the mandates set out for WHO in the UNGA resolution.
It also calls on WHO to support and advance multi-sector action on drowning prevention, including through the establishment of a Global Alliance on Drowning Prevention, and the completion of a Global Status Report on Drowning.
On May 23rd, the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation was represented in Geneva at the side event hosted by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) as part of the World Health Assembly, supporting the initiative of adopting this resolution and being a part of the process since the UN resolution in 2021.
