UN Human Rights Council adopts a resolution on neglected tropical disease

The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) has adopted a resolution recognising neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) as a major public health challenge and also a significant human rights issue

The resolution was approved by consensus during the Council’s 62nd session in Geneva on 7 July 2026 and is the first to address all neglected tropical diseases within a human rights framework.

The initiative was led by Malawi and co-sponsored by Burkina Faso, The Gambia, Kenya, Morocco and the United Republic of Tanzania, where many of these diseases continue to have a significant impact on communities.

A new approach to neglected tropical diseases

The resolution is an important change in how neglected tropical diseases are viewed internationally. Rather than focusing solely on medical treatment and disease control, it highlights the broader social, economic, and environmental factors that increase vulnerability to these conditions.

It recognises that NTDs are closely linked to poverty, inequality, discrimination and social exclusion. It also identifies a lack of access to safe drinking water, sanitation, adequate housing, education and reliable health information as key drivers of disease transmission and persistence.

Climate change, displacement caused by natural disasters and conflict are also acknowledged as growing factors that can increase the risk of neglected tropical diseases, particularly among already vulnerable populations.

Protecting the most vulnerable

The resolution brings attention to the unequal impact of NTDs on certain groups, including women and girls, people living in remote or underserved communities and mobile populations. It encourages countries to strengthen data collection so that disease trends can be better understood and resources directed to those most affected.

It also calls for a rights-based approach to tackling NTDs, ensuring that national programmes address stigma, discrimination and exclusion alongside prevention, diagnosis and treatment. Particular emphasis is placed on removing barriers that prevent people affected by these diseases, including those living with disabilities, from accessing healthcare and other essential services.

Strengthening global action

Member States are encouraged to increase investment in neglected tropical disease programmes through sustained financial support, technical assistance and capacity building. The resolution also highlights the importance of protecting essential NTD services during future health emergencies to avoid disruptions similar to those experienced during recent global crises.

As part of its follow-up, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights will prepare a report examining the human rights dimensions of neglected tropical diseases. Developed with the World Health Organization and other partners, the report will be presented to the Human Rights Council in 2027 and is expected to outline practical measures countries can adopt to strengthen rights-based responses.

Why It matters

Neglected tropical diseases comprise 21 diseases and disease groups that affect more than 1 billion people worldwide, mainly in low-income communities across tropical and subtropical regions. Beyond their health consequences, many of these conditions contribute to long-term disability, social stigma, lost educational opportunities and reduced economic productivity.

The new resolution builds on previous Human Rights Council work addressing discrimination related to leprosy while expanding attention to the broader family of neglected tropical diseases. It reinforces the idea that tackling these diseases requires more than medical interventions alone and that addressing inequality, improving living conditions and protecting human rights are essential components of effective disease control.

The resolution also supports the goals set out in the World Health Organization’s Neglected Tropical Diseases Road Map 2021–2030, which aims to control, eliminate or eradicate these diseases through coordinated global action.