The World Health Assembly (WHA) is the decision-making body of the WHO taking place annually in Geneva, Switzerland. It is attended by delegations from all WHO Member States as well as Non-State Actors (NSAs) in official relations with the WHO.

As NSA, SIOP’s presence at the 76th WHA, 21–30 May 2023, was prepared in co-operation with the SIOP WHO committee chair and the on-site delegation consisting of SIOP President Guillermo Chantada, SIOP Advocacy Chair Alan Davidson, and SIOP Advocacy Committee member Claire Wakefield.

Activities included:

• Government side-event [Argentina, Egypt, Georgia, Lebanon, Malaysia, North Macedonia & Slovakia] co-hosted by City Cancer Challenge C/Can in collaboration with the WHO Collaborative Centre of St Jude Children´s Research Hospital and SIOP: “Delivering Cancer Care for All: How Cities Can Drive Progress, Implement WHO Global Cancer Initiatives and Reach The Most Vulnerable”, with President Guillermo Chantada on the official agenda and presenting the needs in paediatric oncology
• SIOP’s individual statement on Agenda item 13.2 – ‘Political declaration of the third high-level meeting of the General Assembly on the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases, and mental health’ – reiterating support to the WHO Global Initiative for Childhood cancer (GICC) global mapping proposal by the government of Slovakia and the high relevance of addressing childhood cancer in the Noncommunicable Disease framework. Watch it here!
• SIOP’s endorsement of World Health Professions Alliance (WHPA)-led constituency statement on Agenda item 15 – ‘Strengthening WHO preparedness for and response to health emergencies’ focusing on workforce empowerment and protection, including references to paediatric oncology and nursing.