MEDIA ADVISORY: WHO at the 81st United Nations General Assembly and High-Level Week

No images? Click here Monday, 14 September 2026   MEDIA ADVISORY WHO at the 81st UN General Assembly and High-Level Week   The 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA81) takes place under the theme "Restoring trust, managing transformation: A United Nations that delivers for all." During the General Assembly and its High-Level Week in New York, the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners will highlight priorities for making the world healthier, safer and more resilient through science, solidarity and international cooperation.   A central focus of WHO's engagement at UNGA81 will be pandemic prevention, preparedness and response (PPPR), including the Second United Nations General Assembly High-Level Meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response on 25 September. The meeting comes at a critical moment to sustain political momentum following the adoption of the WHO Pandemic Agreement, strengthen implementation of the International Health Regulations, and advance negotiations toward adoption of the Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) Annex.   WHO and partners will also promote action on sustainable financing for health and WHO, climate and health, environmental health threats, emerging technologies and artificial intelligence, and stronger health systems grounded in universal health coverage and primary health care.   Five years after COVID-19, recent Ebola, mpox, cholera and hantavirus outbreaks continue to demonstrate the need for sustained investment in preparedness and global health security. WHO will use UNGA81 to highlight progress made, remaining challenges and the actions needed to make the world safer from future epidemics and pandemics.   Key media moments All times are New York time unless otherwise indicated.   WHO media briefing on UNGA priorities 16 September, 15:00-16:00 (hybrid) Senior WHO leaders will provide an overview of WHO priorities for UNGA81, including pandemic preparedness, sustainable financing for health and WHO, and restoring trust in science and evidence-based public health.   Second United Nations General Assembly High-Level Meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response 25 September, 10:00-18:00 United Nations Headquarters, New York Under the theme "Fostering a multilateral and intergenerational approach to prevent, prepare for and respond to pandemics and public health emergencies, through the principles of equity and solidarity,” Heads of State and Government, ministers, international organizations, civil society and other stakeholders will review progress since the 2023 Political Declaration and agree on actions to strengthen global preparedness for future health emergencies.   Expected areas of focus include: Implementation of the strengthened International Health Regulations; Progress toward entry into force of the WHO Pandemic Agreement; Conclusion of negotiations on the PABS Annex; Stronger surveillance and epidemic intelligence systems; Equitable access to vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics; Sustainable financing for preparedness and response; and One Health approaches to reducing future pandemic risks.   Opportunities for interviews are expected on 25 September at UNHQ. More details to come. Watch live on UN Web TV. WHO event notice https://www.who.int/news-room/events/detail/2026/09/25/default-calendar/second-united-nations-general-assembly-high-level-meeting-on-pandemic-prevention-preparedness-and-response UN web page https://www.un.org/en/civil-society/2026-pandemic-prevention-prepardness-response ****   Other events of interest: 21 September PMNCH Annual Accountability Breakfast 2026: From Pledges to Progress Convened by the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH), the event will focus on accountability for financing and commitments to improve the health and well-being of women, children and adolescents. Register here 21 September Crisis in preparedness: laboratories & frontline readiness in the time of Ebola The event brings together health leaders, funders and technical partners to identify practical solutions for strengthening laboratory systems as a foundation for both routine health services and pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. Register here 21 September Strategies for a sustainable NCD and mental health response: 5th Multistakeholder Gathering The event will bring together governments, civil society, philanthropy and global health partners to advance sustainable financing and effective multisectoral action for noncommunicable diseases and mental health. Register here 22 September High-Level Investment Initiative/Multilateral Development Banks event Senior WHO leadership participation focused on investing in health systems, resilience and sustainable development. 22 September Ending Lead Poisoning: A Global Call to Action Hosted by Bloomberg Philanthropies, Coefficient Giving and the Partnership for a Lead-Free Future. The event will bring together governments, philanthropy and technical partners to accelerate action against one of the world's most preventable environmental health threats. 22 September Launch of the Jameel Arts & Health Lab-Lancet Global Collection on Arts and Health Convened by the Jameel Arts and Health Lab, New York University and the WHO Regional Office for Europe, this event will explore the growing evidence on the role of arts and culture in improving health and well-being. Register here 22 September Two Regions, One Future: Financing Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response to Build Global Health Security Hosted by the Governments of Guyana and Burundi with support from regional and global partners, the event will examine sustainable financing approaches for health security and pandemic preparedness. Register here 22 September Financing for Women's, Children's and Adolescents' Health in a Time of Austerity Leaders and partners will explore innovative approaches to protecting and expanding investments in health during a period of fiscal constraint. Register here 23 September 7th Annual United Nations Group of Friends of Universal Health Coverage Ministerial Meeting Ministers and partners will discuss accelerating progress towards universal health coverage and preparations for the 2027 UN High-Level Meeting on UHC. 23 September One SCD: A Global Partnership to Advance Equity and Transform Sickle Cell Care WHO and partners will highlight opportunities to improve access to prevention, diagnosis and treatment for people living with sickle cell disease. Register here 24 September Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response and Human Mobility: From Global Commitments to Operational Action Hosted by the Government of the Philippines and the International Organization for Migration, with WHO among the co-sponsors. Discussions will explore practical approaches to protecting populations in an increasingly mobile world. Register here                                               25 September Presidential Dialogue on High-Threat Pathogens: From Cross-Border Collaboration to AI-Assisted Preparedness Intelligence in Africa Convened by the President of the Central African Republic, WHO Regional Office for Africa and partners, focusing on regional preparedness and emerging technologies for epidemic intelligence. Register here    ****    Notes to journalists WHO experts are available for interviews throughout UNGA81 including on: Pandemic prevention, preparedness and response; Ebola, cholera and other current outbreaks; Sustainable financing for health and WHO; Health systems strengthening; Universal health coverage and primary health care; Digital health and artificial intelligence.   Interview requests should be sent to: WHO Media Team media@who.int and Paul Garwood (in NY) garwoodp@who.int and +41796037294 WHO news releases and updates will be available at: https://www.who.int/news For real-time updates throughout UNGA81, follow WHO and WHO leadership across social media platforms using: #UNGA81     Media resources WHO at UNGA81 event page: WHO at the United Nations General Assembly 2026 Second United Nations General Assembly High-Level Meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response background materials.   WHO event notice https://www.who.int/news-room/events/detail/2026/09/25/default-calendar/second-united-nations-general-assembly-high-level-meeting-on-pandemic-prevention-preparedness-and-response UN web page https://www.un.org/en/civil-society/2026-pandemic-prevention-prepardness-response WHO Pandemic Agreement information. WHO website https://www.who.int/health-topics/who-pandemic-agreement#tab=tab_1 Intergovernmental Working Group on the WHO Pandemic Agreement https://www.who.int/about/governance/world-health-assembly/intergovernmental-working-group-on-the-who-pandemic-agreement Preparing and preventing epidemics and pandemics https://www.who.int/activities/preparing-and-preventing-epidemics-and-pandemics   ./.     Media contacts: mediainquiries@who.int     You are receiving this NO-REPLY email because you are included on a WHO mail list. If you have been forwarded this update you can click here to subscribe. Journalists may send feedback to WHO Media Team         Share    Tweet    Share    Forward  World Health Organization, Avenue Appia 20, 1202 Geneva 27, Switzerland  Unsubscribe