Addressing the Challenges of Persons Living with a Rare Disease

The UN General Assembly has formally adopted the UN Resolution on Addressing the Challenges of Persons Living with a Rare Disease and their Families.

Watch the official adoption: https://youtu.be/-v7ZovIcPTk

This is the first ever UN text to give full visibility to the over 300 million Persons Living with a Rare Disease (PLWRD) worldwide and calls for action to address the specific challenges faced by PLWRD and their families. The Resolution is co-sponsored by an unprecedented 54 countries and was adopted by consensus by all 193 UN Member States. The document focuses on the importance of non-discrimination and the key pillars of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, including health, access to education and decent work, reducing poverty, tackling gender inequality, and supporting participation in society.

This is a major shift in international policy which places the needs of PLWRD firmly on the agenda of the UN and its agencies (UNICEF, UN WOMEN, UNDP)