2022/06/02 The Geneva Charter for Well-being

The COVID-19 pandemic showed us the importance of resilient health systems and societies. The 10th World Health Organization (WHO) Global Conference on Health Promotion hold in Geneva, Switzerland marked the start of a global movement on the concept of well-being society. All the participants of this landmark event agreed on a Geneva Charter for Well-being, which highlights the need for global commitments to achieve equitable health and social outcomes now and future, without destroying the health of our planet. 

The Charter builds on the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion and the legacy of nine global conferences on health promotion. It outlines the necessary elements of a well-being society and what needs to be done to better prevent and respond to the multiple health and ecological crises. Five key action areas were identified and the instruments for implementation were provided.
1) Value, respect and nurture planet Earth and its ecosystems;
2) Design an equitable economy that serves human development within planetary and local ecological boundaries;
3) Develop healthy public policy for the common good;
4) Achieve universal health coverage;
5) Address the impact of digital transformation.

The Geneva Charter provides a general concept for the complexity health issue; it will require governments, academia, business, non-governmental and civic organizations, and international organizations to work together for decisive implementation of strategies for health and wellbeing.