Groundbreaking UN Resolution on Rare Diseases

Adopted by all 193 Member States

On 16 December 2021, the UN adopted the first-ever UN Resolution on “Addressing the Challenges of Persons Living with a Rare Disease and their Families.”

Press Release from the civil society partners – Rare Diseases International (RDI), the NGO Committee for Rare Diseases, and EURORDIS – Rare Diseases Europe.

The ground-breaking Resolution was adopted by all 193 UN Member States and is the first UN document to recognise the specific challenges of Persons Living with a Rare Disease (PLWRD) and their families.

Groundbreaking resolution

Proposed by Spain, Brazil, and Qatar, the text was co-sponsored by 54 countries (see the complete list of countries).

The Resolution goes beyond health. It affirms that addressing the needs of people living with rare disease (PLWRD) is essential to advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which includes access to education and decent work, reducing poverty, tackling gender inequality, and supporting the inclusion of Persons Living with a Rare Disease in society.

Global Grassroots Advocacy

This milestone is the outcome of coordinated and robust advocacy from rare disease civil society groups worldwide led by Rare Diseases International (RDI), the NGO Committee for Rare Diseases, and EURORDIS – Rare Diseases Europe.

The campaign mobilised national and international patient alliances, advocated policymakers and UN representatives, and engaged all stakeholder groups and the public to urge the UN to adopt a resolution before the end of 2021.

The global campaign continues. Help call on the UN and its Member States to keep their promise to Persons Living with a Rare Disease. Use the Resolution4Rare Toolkit.

Impact of the Resolution

  • Empower the global rare disease community – a powerful text at the international level to support rare disease groups advocating at the national level.
  • Encourage the development of national strategies and plans – an international framework to stimulate the development of national responses and policies.
  • Elevate PLWRD and rare diseases within the UN – a form of “soft law” binding on the UN secretariat, as well as its budget and programmes. It enables greater integration of rare diseases in the agenda, actions and priorities of the UN.
  • Advance the achievement of the 2030 Agenda – the UN recognises that addressing the needs of PLWRD advances its commitment to “leave no one behind” and contributes to the achievement of the SDGs
  • Promote international collaborations – a text promoting global initiatives addressing the complex challenges of PLWRD

Key asks of the UN resolution:

  1. Inclusion and participation in society of persons living with a rare disease & their families
  2. Ensure universal and equitable access to quality health services without financial hardship
  3. Promote national strategies and actions
  4. Intergrate rare diseases into UN agencies, programs and priorities
  5. Publish regular UN reports to monitor progress on the implementation of the resolution.

Read more >> 

SOURCE:  Rare Diseases International, 16 Dec 2021

UN Resolution on Persons Living with a Rare Disease

https://www.rarediseasesinternational.org/un-resolution/

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