• What was the focus of the Summit?
• Who was it organised by?
• When and where did it take place?
• What was the format of the Summit?
  
• Is it a Summit or a High-Level Meeting?
• What was the outcome of the Summit?
• Why is it important?
• What do we need to do to ensure the Summit is a turning point for NCDs?
• How was civil society involved?

What was the focus of the Summit?

UN resolution 64/265 states that the Summit would focus on the ‘four most prominent non-communicable diseases, namely, cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes’, and the ‘common risk factors of tobacco use, alcohol abuse, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and environmental carcinogens.’

Who was it organised by?

The UN Summit on NCDs (UNS) was organized under the direction of the UN General Assembly, with the support of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) and the World Health Organization (WHO). The logistics were organized by the UN Department for General Assembly and Conference Management (DGACM).

When and where did it take place?

The meeting took place at UN Headquarters in New York on 19 and 20 September 2011.

What was the format of the Summit?

The High-Level Meeting was comprised of plenary meetings and three thematic roundtables. The opening Plenary featured opening statements by the President of the General Assembly, UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, WHO Director General Margaret Chan, and a representative from civil society. The three thematic roundtables covered:

• The rising incidence, developmental and other challenges and the social and economic impact of NCDs and their risk factors.
• Strengthening national capacities, as well as appropriate policies, to address prevention and control of NCDs.
• Fostering international cooperation, as well as coordination, to address NCDs.

Is it a Summit or a High-Level Meeting?

The official name for the meeting specified in UN Resolution 64/265 is a ‘High-Level Meeting with the participation of Heads of State and Government.’ Although this term is similar and nearly interchangeable with the term ‘Summit’, a Summit implies the attendance of Heads of State. Therefore, the NCD Alliance recommends usage of the term ‘UN Summit on NCDs (UNS)’ for referring to the meeting.

What was the outcome of the Summit?

Member states adopted Political Declaration.

Why is it important?

The Summit is the biggest and best opportunity to put NCDs on the global agenda. It has the potential to secure commitment from Heads of Government for a coordinated global response to NCDs, substantially increase financial resources for NCDs and save millions from premature death and debilitating health complications. It also has the potential to lead to measurable targets and commitments from governments to take action on NCDs for which they can be monitored and held accountable through regular reporting.

What do we need to do to ensure the Summit is a turning point for NCDs?

Ensuring that major change results from the UN Summit requires concerted effort by all sectors in the lead-up to the event in order to agree specific measurable outcomes and results. Civil society has a critical role to play in shaping the agenda and in delivering concrete outcomes in partnership with governments and communities.  Now that we have the Political Declaration on the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases, what's next?

How was civil society involved?

As members of civil society, you can and have played a key role in ensuring that political leaders commit their attendance and agree to a plan that will secure a better and healthier future.  It is credit to civil society that 34 Heads of State participated in the UN Summit.  Going forward it will be crucial that civil society keep pressure on their governments to create concrete targets for the prevention and control of NCDs. 

The NCD Alliance UN Summit FAQ

Courtesy of the volunteer network of the International Federation of Medical Students Associations, the NCD Alliance's UN Summit FAQ has been translated into multiple different languages.  Although all languages other than English and French are based on the December version and are not completely up to date,  we hope these documents will prove helpful in raising worldwide awareness about the Summit.  If you find errors or would like to make amendments, please contact us and we will incorporate your changes.

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