In pursuit of gender and ethnic equality in health
Contemplating all ethnic groups and mainstreaming gender equality and diversity are part of PAHO’s efforts to eliminate all forms of discrimination and bring health to all.
The Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) is the main body for Spanish cooperation and works to fight poverty and promote sustainable human development.
AECID’s partnership with PAHO has been key to the advancement of ethnic and gender equality in health in the Americas over the past years through funding for the development of policies approved by PAHO ‘s Member States, as well as related technical cooperation.
Recently, AECID has supported initiatives to strengthen Member States’ capacities and knowledge to address gender inequalities in health and for the publication of the first report of the region on Masculinity and Health. The association has been fundamental to the development of the Strategy and Plan of Action on Ethnicity and Health 2019-2025, which included an important process of consultation with Ministries of Health, as well as Indigenous, Afro-descendants and Roma peoples of the region.
A longstanding alliance
AECID has been substantial to PAHO’s work for over 20 years, and is one of the major supporters of issues involving ethnicity and gender, acknowledged as a strategic partner in PAHO’s annual and multiannual plans over time.
For the last 10 years, AECID’s donations to PAHO reached up to €2 million and have been supporting initiatives on interculturality and diversity in health such as consultations, workshops, meetings with the participation of the civil society, and expert meetings to prepare for high-level intergovernmental meetings and decision making bodies. The Regional Conference on Women (from which resulted the Gender Equality Observatory of Latin America and the Caribbean), the publication of documents such as the Health Plan for Indigenous Youth in Latin America and the Caribbean, and the development and update of the Virtual Course on Gender and Health are good examples of remarkable projects supported by AECID.
The work developed by PAHO with AECID’s assistance has contributed to strengthen awareness on gender equality and increase governmental commitment to address intercultural and multiethnic needs, with the effective inclusion of indigenous and other diverse ethnic groups in health policies in the region.