Following two days of meetings on May 16 and 17, the health ministers of the G7 member countries adopted a declaration reiterating their commitment to inclusive and sustainable action for global health. However, this declaration is merely a statement of good intentions, without any real financial commitment, and makes no mention of sexual and reproductive health and rights.
Associations from the seven member countries united under the C7 (Civil 7)[1] and W7 (Women 7)[2] welcome the G7's commitment to maintaining global health as a political priority at the highest level and to supporting the financial success of the Global Fund to Fight HIV, Tuberculosis and Malaria's Replenishment Conference, which will be held on October 10 in Lyon.
" While the G7 countries account for nearly 80% of the Global Fund's total resources, no country took the opportunity at this meeting to announce a specific, advance financial commitment. This would have sent a strong political signal to other donors and mobilized the entire international community in the fight against pandemics and access to healthcare for all," laments Bruno Rivalan, Deputy Executive Director of Action Santé Mondiale and representative of the C7.
Our associations also regret that the G7 health ministers avoided controversial topics, particularly sexual and reproductive health and rights. Yet this is one of the key tools for primary health care and combating health inequalities, which was already conspicuously absent from last week's ministerial meeting on gender. "How can we talk about gender equality without committing to the fundamental rights of women and girls to control their own bodies?" warns Aurélie Gal-Régniez, executive director of Equipop and representative of the W7. " Current events highlight the fact that access to abortion is declining in many countries. G7 countries such as France, which have a strong diplomatic position from a rhetorical point of view, must now provide additional funding to defend women's SRHR in concrete terms—both within and outside the G7. "
Our associations welcome the priority given to primary health care, the most effective tool for combating health inequalities, particularly those related to gender, and for ensuring that everyone can realize their right to health. But today, patients pay more for primary health care than donors and governments combined. We must go beyond a platform for sharing experiences and ensure that G7 countries increase their funding for primary health care and prioritize excluded and vulnerable populations.
The C7 and W7 associations call on heads of state and government to make concrete and ambitious political and financial commitments to accelerate the achievement of SDG 3 at the G7 Summit in Biarritz in August. Beyond political declarations, achieving SDG 3, which aims to ensure good health and well-being for all, will require ambitious financial efforts from each country. As the main donors of development aid in the health sector, the G7 countries have a crucial role to play here, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
[1] C7 (Civil 7) is a G7 engagement group bringing together some 170 civil society organizations and associations from G7 member countries. In 2019, during the French presidency, it is led by Coordination SUD and its work aims to promote its recommendations to G7 decision-makers on the fight against inequalities through gender equality, climate and the environment, education, health, food security, agriculture and nutrition, peace and security, development financing, and tax justice.
[2] W7 (Women 7) brings together feminist organizations from G7 countries and around the world. Its main mission is to ensure that G7 countries make financial and political commitments in 2019 and beyond that will have a concrete and lasting impact on the lives of women and girls around the world. For more information: feministscount.org
Press contacts:
Nicolas Rainaud, Advocacy Manager, Equipop for W7, nicolas.rainaud@equipop.org
Bénédicte Bimoko, Communications Officer, Coordination SUD – +33 (0)1 44 72 03 78, bimoko@coordinationsud.org
Margot Jaymond, Advocacy Officer, Global Health Action for C7 – +33 (0)9 83 25 40 71, mjaymond@ghadvocates.org
