On 15th September, the 71st World Health Organisation Regional Committee for Europe adopted a decision on engagement with non-State actors (NSA). We were pleased to see that the European Federation of Allergy and Airways Diseases Patients’ Organisations (EFA), and other 19 European level civil society organisations, were regranted the official Non-State Actor status with WHO Europe, with the right to attend meetings of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe.
This recognition is an honour for EFA as it brings the patients’ voice closer to the multilateral organisation. The WHO Framework of Engagement with Non-State Actors (FENSA) serves to recognise the essential role of non-profit organisations to advance and promote public health at global, regional, national and community levels.
The 19 renewed, and 6 newly accredited organisations, issued a joint statement stressing the role of civil society as an effective partner that shares best practices, knowledge exchange, and builds bridges across communities.
EFA has been an official NSA to WHO Europe since 2018, participating in the governance processes of WHO Europe and invited to bring the voice of allergy and airways diseases patients to numerous high level discussions and consultations, including:
- the definition of WHO Europe’s Programme of Work 2020-2025 (adopted in September 2020)
- being part of the External Review Group of the WHO Ambient Air Quality Guidelines,
- participating in the first ever WHO Conference on Air Pollution and Health (in 2019)
- the European Immunization Agenda 2030 (adopted in September 2021),
- the pan-European Commission for health and sustainable development report (adopted in September 2021),
- the health programme within COP26 to be held in November 2021 in Glasgow.
Read the full WHO Regional Committee for Europe decision here.