WHO/Europe will be convening the second meeting of scientific experts and policy-makers involved in the development of the second report of the European Health Equity Status Report Initiative (HESRi2). This meeting, to take place in Rome, Italy, will be hosted by the Luiss Business School.
The meeting will gather members of a scientific advisory group and senior policy-makers from 11 countries of the WHO European Region that champion health equity policies and plans (Denmark, Finland, Italy, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, Poland, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Slovenia, Spain and the United Kingdom).
Building on the success of the initial HESRi report launched in 2019, the initiative continues to provide data-driven insights that inspire local, national and international actions. The forthcoming HESRi2 will explore key trends in health equity and well-being across the Region. It aims to equip countries with innovative tools to reduce inequities, enhance resilience and create healthier, more prosperous societies.
HESRi has become an integral part of the commitment of WHO and its Member States to better health in the European Region – emphasizing health equity, and the responsibility of governments and society to improve well-being for all. HESRi2 will be launched in a series of key high-level events dispersed throughout the second half of 2025 – notably the United Nations General Assembly Second World Summit for Social Development. This will be accompanied by coordinated in-country promotional events such as press conferences, and followed by demand-driven national roundtables and policy dialogues. An online training module in support of the use of the updated Health Equity Atlas for countries and stakeholders is being developed.
The Rome meeting
At the HESRi2 meeting, experts and country representatives will:
- present and discuss preliminary analyses of health equity trends across the life-course and across countries in the Region;
- review data on essential conditions – living, learning and working environments – and their role in fostering health equity;
- explore advanced modelling techniques to understand how inequities impact health, social well-being and economic prosperity;
- discuss data and monitoring frameworks to support the WHO/Europe Special Initiative on Violence against Women and Girls (SIVAWG);
- advance country-led priorities through dedicated side meetings, including the Country Knowledge Exchange group and the Health Equity Modelling group.
This initiative is led and coordinated by the WHO European Office for Investment for Health and Development, based in Venice, Italy.