Women’s health report

Women’s health is at a crossroads. Countries endorsed global efforts to advance women’s health by adopting the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and are taking them forward through the Sustainable Development Goals and the Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health. To strengthen action as part of advancing the Health 2020 agenda, in September 2016 the 66th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe adopted a strategy on women’s health and well-being in the WHO European Region.

The WHO Regional Office for Europe report “Women’s health and well-being in Europe: beyond the mortality advantage” provides background to the strategy. The report:

• presents a snapshot of women’s health in the Region;
• discusses the social, economic and environmental factors that determine women’s health and well-being;
• focuses on the impact of gender-based discrimination and gender stereotypes;
• considers what the concept of people-centred health systems would need to entail to respond to women’s needs;
• considers perspectives important for the international and national frameworks that govern women’s health and well-being in the Region.