5.2. Institutional commitment to health equity and human rights 

Advancing institutional commitment to equity and rights through a Health Equity Roadmap in the Philippines: The National stakeholder consultation on Health Equity (led by WHO, in collaboration with the Department of Health, and supported by the University of the Philippines Manila – Program for Health Equity) brought together key actors to co-create the Health Sector Equity Initiative Roadmap. Framing health equity as both a right and a responsibility, the consultation emphasized the need for institutional reforms that embed equity and human rights across policies, systems and service delivery. Through collaborative workshops, participants identified challenges, mapped existing programmes – particularly for groups in conditions of vulnerability – and co-developed a theory of change grounded in social justice and intersectoral action. The process concluded with a shared commitment to next steps, defining key actions, roles and timelines for advancing health equity in the Philippines.  

Reflecting on the role of a human rights-based approach in advancing institutional commitments to improve healthy food environments in Africa: Drawing on the experience of civil society, policy-makers, academics and researchers from Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, the Human Rights and Healthy Diets Research Support Initiative analyzed barriers and opportunities for improving food systems through a human rights-based approach. The research advocates for the use of this approach as a framework for action to support government-led policies to promote healthier food environments and prevent diet-related diseases, while addressing the social determinants of health equity. The initiative was implemented by the International Development Law Organization, in collaboration with the University of Liverpool, with support from the International Development Research Center.