Statement of the WHO European Healthy Cities Network and WHO Regions for Health Network presented at the Sixth Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health Ostrava, Czech Republic, 13–15 June 2017 Annex to the Pécs Declaration, outcome of the WHO European Healthy Cities Network Annual Business and Technical Conference, Pécs, Hungary, 1–3 March 2017 We, the cities and national networks of the WHO European Healthy Cities Network, together with the regions of the WHO Regions for Health Network, fully support the Ostrava Declaration. In doing so, we emphasize the leading roles of cities and regions in addressing and promoting the co-benefits to health and well-being from action to protect the environment. We are fully committed to ensure the highest attainable level of health and well-being for all people in the European Region. We emphasize that health is a fundamental human right and a human necessity, and that only collaborative, coordinated action at all levels will allow us to achieve health, well-being, and sustainable and equitable development for all people and communities. We emphasize the strength of the mandate held by cities and regions to take action, and that we cannot afford to fail. We, as cities and regions, are closest to the people and our input is crucial in decision-making at all levels, for the sustainable and equitable development of healthier, happier, more resilient people and communities, both now and in the future. We acknowledge the progress that is being made in addressing health inequalities in the European Region, but find their persistence unacceptable. We emphasize the urgency of focusing on reducing health inequalities by addressing the social, cultural, economic and environmental determinants of health and well-being, especially among groups at risk of vulnerability. We stress the need for strengthened policy coherence, and better governance for health and well-being, across all levels. We emphasize the important roles of cities, municipalities, and regions in creating inclusive, participatory governance processes that promote empowerment and trust. Statement of the WHO European Healthy Cities Network and WHO Regions for Health Network Page 2 We assert the necessity of strengthening adherence to human rights to fully address health inequalities, create healthy urban places and inclusive cities, and meet the specific health needs of rural populations. We affirm the need to advance gender equality and the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex people as well as other groups at risk of vulnerability. We are committed to reducing inequalities, including gender inequalities. This is fundamental and necessary for, societal well-being, peace, and sustainable development. We recognize the need for intersectoral action to support the priorities of the European Environment and Health Process and are dedicated to achieve these goals. We fully commit to using the wealth of experience within our networks to work towards our common vision of increasing empowerment of people and communities. We aim to do so by encouraging peer learning among cities and regions experiencing different challenges, sharing good practice, and developing tools and policies to promote equity, health, and well- being for all. We recognize the vital importance of building environmental, social, and community resilience in the context of escalating global environmental challenges, and addressing the risks they pose for our people and communities. We, the WHO European Healthy Cities Network, together with the WHO Regions for Health Network, adopt this statement. We commit to taking forward this agenda in the spirit of the Sixth Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health in Ostrava as impetus for further engagement, collaboration, and action.
Statement of the WHO European Healthy Cities Network and WHO Regions for Health Network presented at the Sixth Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health Ostrava, Czech Republic, 13–15 June 2017 Annex to the Pécs Declaration, outcome of the WHO European Healthy Cities Network Annual Business and Technical Conference, Pécs, Hungary, 1–3 March 2017 We, the cities and national networks of the WHO European Healthy Cities Network, together with the regions of the WHO Regions for Health Network, fully support the Ostrava Declaration. In doing so, we emphasize the leading roles of cities and regions in addressing and promoting the co-benefits to health and well-being from action to protect the environment. We are fully committed to ensure the highest attainable level of health and well-being for all people in the European Region. We emphasize that health is a fundamental human right and a human necessity, and that only collaborative, coordinated action at all levels will allow us to achieve health, well-being, and sustainable and equitable development for all people and communities. We emphasize the strength of the mandate held by cities and regions to take action, and that we cannot afford to fail. We, as cities and regions, are closest to the people and our input is crucial in decision-making at all levels, for the sustainable and equitable development of healthier, happier, more resilient people and communities, both now and in the future. We acknowledge the progress that is being made in addressing health inequalities in the European Region, but find their persistence unacceptable. We emphasize the urgency of focusing on reducing health inequalities by addressing the social, cultural, economic and environmental determinants of health and well-being, especially among groups at risk of vulnerability. We stress the need for strengthened policy coherence, and better governance for health and well-being, across all levels. We emphasize the important roles of cities, municipalities, and regions in creating inclusive, participatory governance processes that promote empowerment and trust. Statement of the WHO European Healthy Cities Network and WHO Regions for Health Network Page 2 We assert the necessity of strengthening adherence to human rights to fully address health inequalities, create healthy urban places and inclusive cities, and meet the specific health needs of rural populations. We affirm the need to advance gender equality and the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex people as well as other groups at risk of vulnerability. We are committed to reducing inequalities, including gender inequalities. This is fundamental and necessary for, societal well-being, peace, and sustainable development. We recognize the need for intersectoral action to support the priorities of the European Environment and Health Process and are dedicated to achieve these goals. We fully commit to using the wealth of experience within our networks to work towards our common vision of increasing empowerment of people and communities. We aim to do so by encouraging peer learning among cities and regions experiencing different challenges, sharing good practice, and developing tools and policies to promote equity, health, and well- being for all. We recognize the vital importance of building environmental, social, and community resilience in the context of escalating global environmental challenges, and addressing the risks they pose for our people and communities. We, the WHO European Healthy Cities Network, together with the WHO Regions for Health Network, adopt this statement. We commit to taking forward this agenda in the spirit of the Sixth Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health in Ostrava as impetus for further engagement, collaboration, and action. © World Health Organization 2017 All rights reserved.