Geneva Consensus Declaration on Promoting Women’s Health and Strengthening the Family

Logo for the Geneva Consensus Declarations 2020

The governments of the Brazil, Egypt, Hungary, Indonesia, Uganda and the United States cosponsored a virtual October 22, 2020 gathering in Washington, D.C. for a multinational ceremonial signing of the Geneva Consensus Declaration (so-called because it was intended to occur in Geneva before the live meeting of the World Health Assembly was postponed due to COVID-19). This Declaration further strengthens the coalition to achieve these four pillars: (1) better health for women, (2) the preservation of human life, (3) strengthening of family as the foundational unit of society, and (4) protecting every nation’s national sovereignty in global politics. For example, it is the sovereign right of every nation to make their own laws in regard to abortion, absent external pressure.

We believe that finding genuine solutions to health concerns should be a priority uniting Member States. This Declaration charts a positive way forward for accelerating progress on achieving this end.

The Declaration remains open for additional signatures. Contact jointstatement@hhs.gov for more information.

Promoting Women’s Health Around the World. Together we are stronger.

Geneva Consensus Declaration

Image of Poster for Geneva Consensus Declaration. Click to view the PDF version of the poster.

Geneva Consensus Declaration – English – PDF

Translations of the Declaration in Different Languages

Geneva Consensus Declaration Cosigners

The following 32 countries signed the Geneva Consensus Declaration on October 22, 2020, representing over 1.6 billion people and every region of the world.

Note: Those countries in bold are the Declaration leading co-sponsors.

  1. Kingdom of Bahrain
  2. Republic of Belarus
  3. Republic of Benin
  4. Federative Republic of Brazil (cosponsor)
  5. Burkina Faso
  6. Republic of Cameroon
  7. Democratic Republic of the Congo
  8. Republic of the Congo
  9. Republic of Djibouti
  10. Arab Republic of Egypt (cosponsor)
  11. Kingdom of Eswatini
  12. Republic of The Gambia
  13. Republic of Haiti
  14. Hungary (cosponsor)
  15. Republic of Indonesia (cosponsor)
  16. Republic of Iraq
  17. Republic of Kenya
  18. State of Kuwait
  19. State of Libya
  20. Republic of Nauru
  21. Republic of Niger
  22. Sultanate of Oman
  23. Islamic Republic of Pakistan
  24. Republic of Poland
  25. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
  26. Republic of Senegal
  27. Republic of South Sudan
  28. Republic of Sudan
  29. Republic of Uganda (cosponsor)
  30. United Arab Emirates
  31. United States of America (cosponsor)
  32. Republic of Zambia

The virtual international ceremonial signing of the Geneva Consensus Declaration, cohosted by Secretaries Alex Azar and Mike Pompeo and cosponsored by the governments of Brazil, Egypt, Hungary, Indonesia, Uganda, and the United States was held on October 22 at 11 am EST. The Geneva Consensus Declaration strengthens the resolve to achieve these four pillars: (1) better health for women, (2) the preservation of human life, (3) strengthening of the family as the foundational unit of society, and (4) protecting every nation’s national sovereignty in global politics. This event charts a positive way forward for accelerating progress and will be a celebration of partnership between the many countries gathered.

Sec. Azar and Sec. Pompeo talk about the importance of the Geneva Consensus Declaration and its ceremonial signing on October 22, 2020

Official Statements

Content created by Office of Global Affairs (OGA)
Content last reviewed on October 22, 2020

https://www.hhs.gov/about/agencies/oga/global-health-diplomacy/protecting-life-global-health-policy/geneva-declaration.html