UNITED NATIONS COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN
69th SESSION VIRTUAL PANEL DISCUSSION
PATHWAYS TO ENSURE WOMEN’S EQUAL ACCESS TO GLOBAL HEALTH
17 March 2025, Monday at 10:30 AM (New York) | ZOOM
[New York – March 17, 2025] The Journalists and Writers Foundation (JWF) hosted a virtual side event on the occasion of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women 69th Session titled “Pathways to Ensure Women’s Equal Access to Global Health” on Monday, March 17, 2025 via Zoom. This year marked the 30th anniversary of the historic Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, originally adopted in 1995 at the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, China. The event brought together leading voices in global health, technology, and social medicine to critically examine persistent barriers to gender equity in healthcare and to highlight innovative strategies aimed at promoting women’s equal access to health services worldwide.
Mehmet Kilic, President of the Journalists and Writers Foundation delivered his welcome remarks by expressing gratitude to the global audience for joining the discussion and emphasized the ongoing review of the Beijing Declaration. Mr. Kilic pointed to the CSW69 as an opportunity to reflect on progress in achieving gender equality and to recommit to advancing women’s rights and empowerment. He underscored that this year, JWF had collaborated with 16 NGOs from 7 countries to organize 14 panel discussions, a High-Level Reception – Ramadan Dinner, and a film screening focused on women’s rights. This virtual session’s theme, women’s equal access to global health, was framed within the intersection of health, human rights, and social justice. Mr. Kilic reminded participants that global health delivery must be informed by ethical considerations and inclusivity if the commitments of the Beijing Declaration and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development are to be fulfilled.
Dr. Priyanka Chahal, a medical doctor and global health researcher currently pursuing a Master’s in Global Health Delivery at Harvard Medical School, moderated the panel discussion. Dr. Chahal also serves as the Program Associate and Youth Representative of the JWF to the Department of Global Communications. She emphasized the urgency of addressing persistent gender inequalities in healthcare, particularly those that affect women and girls living in poverty, conflict zones, and other marginalized settings. Drawing inspiration from global health leaders like Dr. Joia Mukherjee and the late Dr. Paul Farmer, Dr. Chahal explained that structural violence, systemic social, economic, and political inequalities, remains a key driver of ill health. She argued that women and girls experience these inequities more acutely, facing barriers rooted in gender discrimination, harmful social norms, economic dependence, and geographic isolation. Dr. Chahal framed healthcare access as a fundamental human right and a global public good. She called for renewed commitment to realizing the ambitious goals of the Beijing Declaration.
Atefeh Riazi, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer at Hertz Corporation, and former Assistant Secretary-General and Chief Information Technology Officer at the United Nations was the first speaker. Drawing from her early career as Global CIO at Ogilvy & Mather, Ms. Riazi recounted a transformative visit to Guiyu, China, a town infamous for dismantling electronic waste. Expecting to see a system of environmentally friendly recycling, she was instead horrified to find pregnant women and children dismantling hazardous electronics by hand. She described how exposure to lead, mercury, and other toxins had devastating effects on these workers, leading to health crises such as cancer, birth defects, and widespread contamination of water and soil. Ms. Riazi criticized the global inequity that allows such dangerous practices to persist in the Global South while developed countries impose strict regulations at home. She cited the example of the United States, where only prisoners in hazmat suits are allowed to handle e-waste, contrasting it with the lack of protection for women and children in countries like China and India. This experience inspired Ms. Riazi to found CIOs Without Borders, an organization advocating for ethical technology policies and safer working conditions for women in technology’s global supply chains.
Ms. Riazi then turned to her tenure at the United Nations, where she witnessed how health crises disproportionately affect women. She reflected on the 2014 Ebola epidemic, noting that although the virus affected entire populations, women bore 75% of the burden as caregivers and frontline health workers. She pointed out that similar patterns emerge in the HIV/AIDS epidemic, where young women and girls in sub-Saharan Africa are disproportionately affected by new infections. Ms. Riazi stressed that these inequities are exacerbated by gender-based violence, poverty, and weak legal protections. She cited data showing that around 4,000 girls and young women become newly infected with HIV each week in Africa, accounting for 63% of all new infections. These stark statistics underscore the need for healthcare solutions that account for the lived realities of women and girls.
Additionally, Ms. Riazi highlighted the plight of women and children in conflict and refugee settings, mentioning crises in Ukraine, Yemen, Syria, and Palestine. She explained that women make up the majority of refugee populations and are disproportionately affected by the destruction of health infrastructure in war zones. With millions of women and children lacking access to basic healthcare services, their vulnerability to disease, exploitation, and trafficking is heightened.
In a more hopeful reflection, Ms. Riazi described her experience as CIO of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center just before the COVID-19 pandemic. Although telemedicine had long been discussed, the pandemic forced healthcare providers to adopt digital health solutions rapidly. This shift demonstrated the potential for technology to bridge healthcare gaps and provide affordable, accessible healthcare on a global scale. Ms. Riazi emphasized that 70% of healthcare workers are women, and although they bore the brunt of the COVID-19 crisis, they also led in adopting remote care solutions. She concluded by stressing that while technology has historically contributed to inequality and exploitation, it can also be a powerful tool for equity and justice when developed responsibly. She called for closing the digital divide and prioritizing ethical innovation in healthcare.
Dr. Michelle Niescierenko was the next speaker who is leading Pediatric Emergency Medicine and Public Health Physician, and the Founding Chair of the Global Health Program at Boston Children’s Hospital. Dr. Niescierenko focused her remarks on the intersection of gender equity, women’s health leadership, and health system strengthening. She began by reflecting on the progress made since the adoption of the Beijing Declaration, noting that between 1995 and 2015, global maternal mortality rates fell by 44%. However, since 2015, progress has stagnated. The current global maternal mortality rate is 223 deaths per 100,000 live births, with Africa facing the highest rates at 530 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. Despite this stagnation, Dr. Niescierenko expressed cautious optimism, emphasizing that women-led innovations are transforming healthcare delivery for women and girls in some of the world’s most challenging contexts.
Dr. Niescierenko shared several inspiring examples of women leaders driving change. She highlighted the work of Professor Hadiza Galadanci, who led Nigeria’s E-MOTIVE trial, introducing a calibrated drape that enables early detection of postpartum hemorrhage. This simple but powerful tool has reduced severe outcomes by up to 60% and has influenced WHO guidelines for managing postpartum hemorrhage. In Nigeria, simulation centers have been established to train new generations of skilled birth attendants using this innovative approach. Addressing adolescent pregnancy, Dr. Niescierenko cited Nurse Shirley Fula’s work in Liberia. Nurse Fula integrates microeconomic initiatives and reproductive health education in rural villages to reduce adolescent pregnancies. By generating household income and keeping girls in school, these programs promote healthy decision-making and greater access to family planning services.
Dr. Niescierenko also addressed the link between gender-based violence and HIV infection. She pointed out that 44% of new HIV infections occur among women and girls, with gender-based violence significantly increasing their vulnerability. Dr. Niescierenko concluded by underscoring the importance of measuring progress through key indicators, including maternal mortality, skilled birth attendance, adolescent pregnancy rates, family planning access, HIV infection rates, and essential health service coverage. However, she emphasized that women are not just data points; they are leaders, innovators, and agents of change who are reshaping healthcare systems. She issued a call to action to identify, support, and scale women-led solutions that promote gender equity in global health delivery, bringing us closer to the vision of the Beijing Declaration and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Recognizing the spiritual significance of Ramadan and its alignment with the values of empathy, generosity, and social justice, the event also featured a special segment dedicated to interfaith dialogue. Distinguished faith leaders from Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—including Archbishop Gabriele G. Caccia, Dr. Ronnie Perelis (Jewish tradition), Father James DiLuzio (Roman Catholic Christian tradition), and Dr. Nuray Yurt (Islamic tradition)—spoke on the importance of fasting, charity, and unity in their respective religious traditions. Their reflections reinforced the common values that bind diverse faith communities together, fostering a spirit of mutual respect and cooperation. As a gesture of gratitude, JWF President Mehmet Kilic presented beautifully crafted Turkish ceramic plates, honoring their steadfast commitment to interfaith dialogue, mutual understanding, and the peaceful coexistence of all people.
Dr. Anatole Manzi, Deputy Chief Medical Officer-in-Charge of Clinical Quality and Health System Strengthening at Partners in Health, brought to the conversation decades of experience in advancing health systems in low-resource and fragile settings, particularly across Africa. His focus on social medicine as a driver of health justice was both deeply personal and analytically rigorous.
Dr. Manzi opened his remarks by sharing a powerful personal story from early in his medical career in rural Rwanda, an experience that continues to inform his advocacy for equitable healthcare. He recounted the case of a woman living with HIV who had sought pain relief at one of Rwanda’s first treatment centers during the early 2000s. Unable to wait for hours in line due to her unbearable pain and with no other viable options for care, she returned home and, tragically, took her own life that evening. She left behind two young children. This painful story, Dr. Manzi said, exemplifies the systemic barriers women face when accessing healthcare, even as global health systems have advanced. He reflected on this loss as a constant reminder of why social medicine must be central to any conversation about healthcare access and justice.
Dr. Manzi used this story to frame the ongoing challenges in maternal health. He cited data revealing that as of 2020, nearly 800 women die daily from preventable causes linked to pregnancy and childbirth—totaling 287,000 maternal deaths annually. Shockingly, 95% of these deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, a fact he argued reflects gross inequities in healthcare access, infrastructure, and quality. Women living in poverty, conflict zones, and marginalized communities continue to pay the highest price for these systemic gaps.
Transitioning into the core theme of his presentation, Dr. Manzi described social medicine as an approach that transcends conventional clinical practice. While traditional biomedicine focuses on diagnosing and treating disease, social medicine addresses the broader social, economic, and political factors that shape health outcomes. He emphasized the importance of understanding political determinants of health, such as how resource allocation, power dynamics, and governance structures perpetuate or alleviate health inequities. Quoting Daniel Dawes, Dr. Manzi underlined that the distribution of power and resources within societies is often what determines whether health equity is advanced or obstructed.
Dr. Manzi argued passionately that social medicine is essential for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—particularly SDG 3, which focuses on good health and well-being. He explained how social determinants, including income, education, housing, and gender equality, are intrinsically linked to women’s health outcomes. Returning to his early clinical experience in Rwanda, he reflected on how the woman’s death might have been prevented had there been more staff at the clinic, better transportation infrastructure, or stronger community-based support systems.
Highlighting data that reveals the gender health gap, Dr. Manzi noted that women collectively lose 75 million years of life each year due to poor health and premature death. He emphasized that women are often diagnosed later than men for life-threatening diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular illness. He also pointed out that the COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated gender-based health disparities; the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) estimated that 12 million women in poorer countries lost access to contraception during the pandemic, and many health systems have still not recovered.
In response to these challenges, Dr. Manzi proposed several strategic interventions. First, he called for a paradigm shift in addressing structural inequalities, including transforming women’s access to education, ensuring their representation in leadership and governance, and expanding economic opportunities. Without these systemic reforms, he warned, women will continue to face barriers to accessing equitable healthcare.
Third, he advocated for integrated healthcare systems to replace the current fragmented and siloed models. Women, he argued, often face unnecessary burdens when healthcare services are split across multiple locations and require multiple visits. Dr. Manzi called for streamlined, integrated care pathways that center women’s lived realities and simplify access to essential services. Fourth, Dr. Manzi highlighted empathy as an indispensable component of health system reform. He argued that health providers and policymakers alike have a moral obligation to approach healthcare delivery with empathy, recognizing healthcare as a basic human right rather than a privilege. Empathy, he stressed, should drive policy decisions and clinical practice.
Finally, Dr. Manzi discussed the need for leadership and accountability in ensuring governments and institutions meet their commitments. Referencing the Abuja Declaration, which pledged African nations to allocate at least 15% of their national budgets to health, he pointed out that only six countries have met this target. Without intentional investments, especially in healthcare infrastructure, these commitments risk remaining unfulfilled.
Dr. Umut Duygu, an ophthalmologist and registered naturopath, joined the panel discussion from Mali. Dr. Umut is as a healthcare professional with extensive experience in ophthalmology and global health, noting her impressive career spanning Turkey, Canada, and Africa. Since 2005, Dr. Umut has performed over 10,000 eye surgeries, many of them provided pro bono to underserved populations in Africa. After relocating to Canada to escape political turmoil in Turkey, she broadened her scope of practice to include naturopathic medicine. She currently works at Golden Life American Hospital in Mali, where she continues to address the healthcare needs of marginalized and underserved communities.
Dr. Umut began her remarks with a powerful statistic: women make up 67% of the global healthcare workforce, yet they occupy only 25% of leadership positions. This significant imbalance, she argued, hampers progress toward gender equality in healthcare systems. Achieving gender equity, she stressed, is not merely an ethical obligation but a practical necessity. Without it, efforts to improve healthcare delivery and health outcomes will remain incomplete.
She supported her argument with further statistics. In the United States, women pay 18% more than men annually for healthcare, due to more frequent utilization of healthcare services. Additionally, 24% of women report poor health-related quality of life compared to 16% of men. Drawing on data from the European Institute for Gender Equality, she pointed out that 16% of gender-diverse individuals face discrimination in healthcare settings, particularly from employers.
Dr. Umut shared personal anecdotes from her time as a naturopathic medicine student in Toronto. During her internship at a community health center primarily serving HIV-positive and gender-diverse individuals, she encountered numerous patients who avoided seeking care due to past discrimination and mistreatment. These patients frequently delayed diagnoses and treatment, often suffering unnecessarily because of the stigma and biases entrenched in healthcare systems.
She outlined four primary barriers preventing gender equality in healthcare:
- Socioeconomic and Cultural Barriers: These systemic issues disproportionately restrict women and gender-diverse individuals from accessing quality healthcare services.
- Gender Bias in Medical Research: Historically, medical research has centered around male physiology, leading to gaps in diagnosis and treatment for women. For instance, heart disease symptoms in women often present differently than in men but are frequently overlooked.
- Leadership Disparity: Although women dominate the healthcare workforce, they remain underrepresented in leadership positions, reinforcing a “glass ceiling” effect that stifles systemic change.
- Healthcare Access Disparities: Women and gender-diverse populations often face additional barriers in accessing reproductive health services, gender-based violence support, and LGBTQ+ inclusive care.
Dr. Umut elaborated on the consequences of these inequities. Despite living longer than men on average, women spend a greater proportion of their lives in poor health. Financial limitations, lower incomes, and biases within healthcare systems further limit their access to quality care. She noted that the health disparities experienced by women are not isolated to developing countries; they are global challenges affecting women everywhere.
Despite these challenges, Dr. Umut highlighted promising examples of policies and initiatives aimed at addressing these disparities. Programs led by the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations (UN), and various national governments are paving the way toward gender-inclusive healthcare systems. She cited case studies that demonstrate how healthcare organizations can promote women into leadership roles, empower community health workers, and advocate for gender-transformative health policies.
Concluding her presentation, Dr. Umut outlined a series of strategic actions necessary to advance gender equality in healthcare:
- Building gender-responsive health systems
- Ensuring comprehensive reproductive and sexual health services
- Addressing gender bias in clinical practice and research
- Investing in women’s health and economic participation
- Engaging men and boys as allies
- Closing the gender pay gap in healthcare
- Advancing gender-inclusive medical research
Dr. Umut concluded by calling on policymakers, healthcare professionals, and global advocates to create inclusive healthcare environments that serve all individuals equitably, regardless of gender.
