UN General Assembly in New York – Finland to attend High-level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance

Minister of Social Security Sanni Grahn-Laasonen will attend a High-level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance in New York on 26 September 2024. Minister Grahn-Laasonen will deliver Finland’s address at the meeting, highlighting as a new theme the importance of the gender perspective in comprehensive antimicrobial resistance prevention.

Antimicrobial resistance means that antibiotics stop working against once easily-treatable infections. It is a silent killer that leads to nearly 5 million people dying every year. Antimicrobial resistance poses a threat to human, animal and environmental health around the world.

The High-level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance, which will take place on 26 September 2024, is now more topical than ever. Finland will be represented at the meeting by a delegation headed by Minister of Social Security Sanni Grahn-Laasonen.

“Prevention of antimicrobial resistance is closely linked to strengthening comprehensive security. It is therefore one of the priorities of international cooperation for the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health,” says Minister of Social Security Sanni Grahn-Laasonen.

“Antimicrobial resistance is a serious cross-border problem, which is why international cooperation is needed to solve it. Awareness of the implications of antimicrobial resistance must be increased to prevent its spread effectively,” says Grahn-Laasonen.

In Finland’s address, Grahn-Laasonen will emphasise that a One Health approach and the prudent use of antimicrobials in both humans and animals are the cornerstones of antimicrobial resistance prevention. The Minister will also stress the importance of taking the gender equality perspective into account as part of comprehensive antimicrobial resistance prevention.

 
Successful prevention of antimicrobial resistance also requires gender perspective 

Finland promotes gender equality and the rights of women and girls on a cross-cutting basis in all global health themes. Finland has also, for the first time, brought the gender perspective into the discussion on antimicrobial resistance.

Biological, sociocultural and economic factors put especially women at a higher risk of antimicrobial resistance in different life situations. Women’s higher risk of antimicrobial resistance is evident particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

“Preventing antimicrobial resistance in a comprehensive manner requires that we take the gender and human rights perspective into account. For example, sexual and reproductive health and rights as part of primary healthcare and stronger health systems are an essential part of antimicrobial resistance prevention,” Grahn-Laasonen says.

 
Finland supports Political Declaration on Antimicrobial Resistance

The High-level Meeting is expected to adopt a Political Declaration on Antimicrobial Resistance, which Finland supports. The purpose of the Declaration is to provide support to the strengthening of the concrete measures needed to prevent antimicrobial resistance at local, national and global levels. The Declaration will support the preparation of national action plans on antimicrobial resistance. Finland has actively participated in the negotiations on the Declaration as part of the European Union.
 

Inquiries:

Laura Rissanen, State Secretary to the Minister of Social Security, tel. +358 295 163 632

Pasi Korhonen, Director of International Affairs, tel. +358 295 163 175

Annika Launiala, Senior Specialist, tel. +358 295 163 053

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