People's Health Assembly

The People’s Health Movement (PHM) is a global network bringing together health activists from around the world to exchange and work towards a world where ‘Health for All’ is a reality. Equity, ecologically‐sustainable development and peace are at the heart of its vision of a better world ‐ a world in which a healthy life for all is a reality; a world that respects, appreciates and celebrates all life and diversity; a world that enables the flowering of people's talents and abilities to enrich each other; a world in which people's voices guide the decisions that shape our lives.

PHM is hosting the People's Health Assembly from 6-11 July 2012 in Cape Town.

The event draws in civil society organisations and networks, social movements, academia and other stakeholders from around the globe. It provides a unique space for strengthening solidarity, sharing experiences, mutual learning and joint strategising for future actions. It is an assembly for and by people's rather than an international event organised by global structures. The first PHA was held in Savar, Bangladesh in 2000 and was attended by more than 1500 people. The People’s Charter for Health the PHM’s, founding document, was developed and endorsed at this Assembly. The second PHA was held in Cuenca, Ecuador in 2005 and attended by 1492 people. The Cuenca Declaration, issued at the conclusion of this Assembly, was designed to provide a strategic vision for the PHM.

The objectives of the Assembly and associated activities include:

• To create a vibrant platform  for constructive dialogue, planning and mobilisation around health and the broader social determinants of health, involving a broad range of stakeholders;
• To strengthen solidarity, facilitate sharing, learning and joint strategising between health activists globally for planning activities towards Health for All;
• To create sustainable structures and dynamics, both within and outside the health sector, which will continue to drive coordinated action on the social determinants of health and to secure universal and equitable access to health and health care, in particular comprehensive primary health care;
• To increase the capacity of civil society and health activists to engage with and intervene in the policy making process, to monitor and drive policy implementation, to ensure accountability in the functioning of health systems and to build a productive dialogue on governance in health care;
• To further strengthen  the PHM by reflecting on activities and progress and planning and consolidating programmes and activities of PHM ensuring these are reflective of needs;
• To reaffirm our identity and to inspire health activists to continue the struggle for better and more equitable health for all;
• To celebrate the strengths and accomplishments of health activists around the globe.

Around 1 200 participants from across the globe are expected to attend the Assembly, particularly from low and middle income countries. Participants will be mobilised through country and regional mobilisation processes leading up to the Assembly. Participants will include represents civil society organisations / networks (including non-governmental organisation, community-based organisations, trade unions, professional associations, etc.); governments, intergovernmental bodies, academic institutions, etc. The pre-Assembly mobilisation process aims to engage active civil society especially at the grassroots level. The PHM global structures aim to mobilise resources to support around 30 percent of participants especially from Sub-Saharan Africa. This financial sponsorship will allow the representation of grassroots and community based organisations, indigenous populations and other marginalised groups.

The main thematic axes of the event are:

• The Global Political and Economic context of health;
• Social and Physical Environments that destroy or promote health;
• Universal coverage and equity in comprehensive and integrated health systems;
• Beyond the Crisis: Mobilising for Health for All.

To register, refer to www.phmovement.org/en/pha3/contact. Alternatively, you can e-mail to registration-pha3@phmovement.org.

For more about the Third People’s Assembly, refer to www.phmovement.org/en/pha3.

For more about the People’s Health Movement, refer to www.phmovement.org.