In a world facing a convergence of unprecedented challenges, including protracted conflicts, the enduring repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic instability, and a cascade of climatic disasters, a stark realization has emerged: the existing frameworks of national and global leadership are ill-equipped to address this multifaceted global “polycrisis.” Characterized by the interplay of numerous crises, this state of affairs amplifies suffering and destabilizes societies, rendering the development of effective policy responses increasingly daunting.
Amid this turbulent landscape, a call for innovative and decisive approaches to break the cycles of inequity and violence and usher in an era of equity and peace becomes imperative. Answering this call, the Lancet Commission on peaceful societies through health equity and gender equality was convened. Inaugurated in May 2019, this Commission’s mission is to scrutinize the intricate connections between three critical Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): SDG3, focusing on health; SDG5, emphasizing gender equality; and SDG16, centered on peace, justice, and robust institutions. Extensive research conducted by the Commission underscores the transformative potential of advancing health equity and gender equality as integral components on the path towards global peace and prosperity.
Four pivotal messages have emerged from the Commission’s research. Firstly, it highlights the unique and potent role of health equity and gender equality in fostering peaceful societies. Acknowledging the multifaceted nature of conflicts, the Commission recognizes that health equity and gender equality themselves are shaped by intricate social and economic dynamics that evolve over extended timeframes. Nonetheless, the Commission provides compelling evidence that progress in these domains can set societies on a course toward peace.
The transformative influence of health equity and gender equality is rooted in their demand for decisive actions, defined as tangible and sustained policies that enhance outcomes in health and gender equality. These actions are referred to as the “mechanisms” of health equity and gender equality. Health equity necessitates nations to embrace the right to health, confront disparities, and uphold universal access to healthcare services as indispensable components of human potential and dignity. In parallel, gender equality demands legislation to safeguard the rights of women and sexual and gender minorities, ensuring equal access to education, resources, technology, infrastructure, safety, and security, thereby enabling active participation in economic, civil, and political spheres.
