EB156(22)

Having considered the report by the Director-General;

Recalling resolution WHA73.2 (2020) in which the Health Assembly adopted the global strategy to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer as a public health problem, urged Member States to take action to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer through prevention, including with vaccination, detection and treatment, and by taking a holistic systems approach to cervical cancer programmes, called upon international organizations and stakeholders to prioritize activities to eliminate cervical cancer through prevention, including with vaccination, detection and treatment, and requested the Director-General to provide support to Member States, upon request, to implement the global strategy and strengthen stakeholder engagement to achieve the 2030 targets;

Recalling also the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, especially Goal 1 (End poverty in all its forms everywhere), Goal 3 (Ensure healthy lives and promote well‑being for all at all ages), Goal 5 (Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls), and Goal 10 (Reduce inequality within and among countries);

Recognizing every human being's right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health without discrimination;

Recognizing also the importance of prioritizing the health of women and girls, especially those living with HIV, and addressing the associated stigmatization, gender inequality and barriers to accessing healthcare services related to cervical cancer by promoting universal access to sexual and reproductive healthcare services, human papillomavirus vaccination and cervical cancer screening and treatment, as part of an integrated healthcare system, in accordance with national priorities and contexts;

Recognizing further the disproportionate burden on women living with HIV, who are more likely to develop cervical cancer;

Recognizing that cervical cancer is preventable and treatable, and curable if detected early and adequately treated, yet remains among the most common causes of cancer‑related morbidity and death in women across the world and can increase infertility, with a disproportionate burden in developing countries;

Recognizing also the efforts of WHO, including its regional and country offices, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, and other international organizations in strengthening the capacity of frontline health workers through training in screening and treatment techniques, as well as education on vaccines;

Recognizing further the need to promote access to cervical cancer screening services, potentially including the availability of self-sampling that may offer a sense of empowerment and participation;

Recognizing that human papillomavirus is the leading cause of cervical cancer in women and can also lead to other cancers in men and women and that despite the availability of vaccines, vaccination coverage against human papillomavirus in girls under 15 years is far from the goal of 90% by 2030;

Recognizing also that effective primary (human papillomavirus vaccination) and secondary prevention approaches (screening for and treating precancerous lesions) can prevent most cervical cancer cases;

Emphasizing that human papillomavirus vaccination, screening and treatment of precancerous lesions are very cost-effective strategies to prevent cervical cancer;

Recognizing that boosting public awareness, access to information and services are important elements for prevention and control of diseases across the life course;

Recalling the historic nature of resolution WHA73.2 (2020), the first-ever resolution to pursue the global elimination of a cancer, and the accompanying launch of the global strategy to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer as a public health problem on 17 November 2020;

Noting the positive responses in all regions to the launch of the global strategy, as well as sustained advocacy, planning, action and health promotion activities that have continued on 17 November each year to mark that day, thereby encouraging community collaboration, promoting cervical cancer prevention early detection and treatment services, and maintaining attention on the importance of solidarity across countries in pursuit of the world's first elimination of a cancer,