The Commission on the Social Determinants of Health (CSDH) is a global network of policy makers, researchers and civil society organizations brought together by the World Health Organization (WHO) to give support in tackling the social causes of poor health and avoidable health inequalities (health inequities). The CSDH had a three-year directive to gather and review evidence on what needs to be done to reduce health inequalities within and between countries and to report its recommendations for action to the Director-General of WHO. The report of the Commission, Closing the Gap in a Generation, was released on 28 August 2008.
A briefing on the report for Members of ECOSOC is being held in view of its direct relevance to the 2009 Annual Ministerial Review theme, "Implementing the internationally agreed goals and commitments in regard to global public health". The Chair of the Commission will present the report, and a discussion about how the recommendations might be achieved will follow.
Provisional Programme:
Presentation of the report by:
Sir Michael Marmot, Chair of the CSDH, Director of the International Institute for Society and Health, and Head of the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at University College London
Responses by:
Dr. Ruth Levine, Vice President for Programs and Operations, and Senior Fellow, Center for Global Development (Washington, D.C.)
Dr. Nora Lustig, J.B. and Maurice C. Shapiro Visiting Professor of International Affairs, The Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University
Interactive discussion with ECOSOC Member States
Moderator: Mr. Thomas Stelzer, Assistant Secretary-General for Policy Coordination and Inter-Agency Affairs, UN/DESA
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
3:00 p.m.--5:00 p.m.
at
ECOSOC Chamber
1 UN Plaza, New York, NY 10017
