Welcome to the May & June 2025 ICN Monthly Update!

We are pleased to offer a summary of our endeavors, achievements, and notable events from the past month. We invite you to explore the latest developments, discoveries, and highlights within our community. Thank you for choosing to stay informed and engaged with us through our Monthly Update!

International Consensus Framework Launch

Six leading international organizations representing patients (IAPO), physicians (WMA), pharmacists (FIP), nurses (ICN), hospitals (IHF), and the pharmaceutical industry (IFPMA) have adopted the first joint ethical principle in the healthcare industry on the responsible use of health data and technology, including artificial intelligence. This new principle joins the International Consensus Framework for Ethical Collaboration in Health, established in 2014 as a global platform to ensure that relationships across the health ecosystem are grounded in ethical, transparent, and responsible decision-making. More details can be found on the IFPMA website.           

World Health Assembly

We represented nurses at the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA), 27 May -1 June, making five Statements and three Constituency Statements as well as calling on WHO member states to extend the Strategic Directions for Nursing and Midwifery (2021-2025).  Watch our wrap-up video and read our statements here.

WHPA Side event

At the WHPA side event during the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA), on Monday 19 May in Geneva, former ICN President Dr Pamela Cipriano, along with other WHPA leaders, amplified the professions’ central messaging at the WHA: Health professionals are a cost-effective way to provide safe and quality care and represent a sustainable long-term investment.

Human Right Council statement

We have again called for adherence to human rights frameworks and accountability for violations of rights, following a new UN Special Rapporteur report,  “Health and care workers as defenders of the right to health”, which was presented to the Human Rights Council. We submitted a comprehensive contribution to this report which has been published on the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights website.

Safeguarding Health in Conflict Coalition (SHCC) - Epidemic of Violence Report

The latest report from the Safeguarding Health in Conflict Coalition (SHCC), Epidemic of Violence, has identified 3,600 attacks on health care around the world in in 2024, marking a 15% increase from 2023 and a 62% rise from 2022. ICN CEO Howard Catton said the new SHCC data underlines the severity of the current global situation, and described how many nurses are finding their everyday work environment suddenly transformed into a deadly battlefield from which there is no escape, with health staff and facilities increasing being shot at, bombed, blasted, and destroyed. Read more.

Nursing for Planetary Health and Wellbeing

We have released a new topic brief titled “Nursing for Planetary Health and Wellbeing”, emphasizing the vital role nurses play in addressing the health impacts of our shared environmental crises. The brief highlights the emerging concept of planetary health and stresses the urgency to recognize and take action to reduce the impacts that human disruptions to Earth’s natural systems are having on the health of individuals and communities.

Student and Early Career Nurses (SECN)

A new statement released by SECN through ICN expresses deep concern over the global environmental crisis and its escalating impact on human health. In a unified voice, the members of the ICN Nursing Student Steering Group have issued a bold declaration recognizing the urgent threat posed by environmental degradation. Their message is clear: the impact of environmental degradation and the climate crisis is not a future concern - it is reshaping healthcare now. To read our full statement and join the call to action, visit here.

ICN’s New Definition of Nursing and the Nurse

We are proud to unveil a new, comprehensive Definition of Nursing and the Nurse,  providing an authoritative articulation of the profession’s scope, identity and contribution to global health. The new definition is a declaration – a global compass that reclaims and renews the essence and potential of nursing. This new definition is the culmination of a year-long global initiative led by an expert panel and supported by a Delphi group of distinguished nurses from every ICN region, ensuring inclusivity and cultural resonance across diverse health systems and communities. It reflects a truly global consensus.

Royal College of Nursing Collaboration on Education

We have signed a historic partnership agreement with The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) to boost nurse education and continuing professional development. The agreement was signed at our ICN bi-annual Congress in Helsinki by RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive Professor Nicola Ranger and Howard Catton. Read more about this achievement on our website.

Investment in Nursing

Against a backdrop of escalating global health challenges, our ruling council has issued a powerful call for urgent action to address the nursing workforce crisis. Backed by compelling evidence from several new reports, the Helsinki Communique outlines core challenges along with strategic solutions and reiterates that support for nursing is not a cost: it is a wise investment in the future of health care.

New State of the World’s Nursing Report

As the world’s nurses celebrated International Nurses Day (IND), we issued a rallying cry to governments around the globe for urgent nursing support, following the launch of the second World Health Organization (WHO) State of the World’s Nursing (SOWN) report.

The SOWN report is a vital assessment of the global nursing workforce in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and underscores the urgent need for bold investments in nursing to address shortages, strengthen health systems, and promote global resilience and economic stability. Read more about the SOWN report and IND on our website.

BBC StoryWorks Caring with Courage

We are excited to be continuing our mission to improve the public’s knowledge and perceptions of the profession in the media through collaboration with BBC StoryWorks Commercials Productions, which has released a second compelling series of Caring with Courage films on nursing. Watch the videos on our website!

Introducing the ICN Leadership Centre

Announced at our Congress in Helsinki, the ICN Leadership Centre is a bold new chapter in global nursing leadership bringing our most impactful programmes together under one strategic umbrella. At launch, the Centre includes the Organizational Development of National Nursing Associations (ODENNA), Leadership for Change™, the Global Nursing Leadership Institute™ (GNLI), GNLI Alumni, Nursing Leadership for Crisis Response and Recovery (NLCRR), and the Bank of Nursing Experts (BNE). This is just the beginning, new programmes, products, and services will continue to be added as the Centre grows and evolves.

ODENNA Africa was proudly showcased at ICN Congress 2025 through a series of engaging sessions that highlighted team achievements, leadership stories, and future plans. It was especially meaningful to see so many ODENNA teams, mentors, and programme sponsors come together — reconnecting in person, sharing project highlights, and celebrating the progress made. As ODENNA Africa enters its final phase, participating NNAs are preparing closing reports and sustainability plans. To date, ODENNA teams have reached over 25,000 nurses, midwives, and healthcare professionals through targeted leadership training, organizational development, and mentorship. These impacts will only continue to grow as the projects mature and scale.

GNLI was well represented at Congress, with over 100 GNLI Alumni coming together in Helsinki. The first GNLI Alumni Annual Meeting brought together past and present scholars, culminating in a special recognition ceremony to honour outstanding contributions from Catherine Schofield, Margrieta Langins, Jed Montayre and Olubunmi Lawal. At the “GNLI Spotlight on Nurse Migration,” two of the 2024 regional projects took centre stage, followed by a dynamic panel led by Dr Diana Mason. As we celebrate our Alumni achievements, we are also proud to launch the GNLI 2025 cohort and welcome an inspiring new group of 31 nurse leaders who are eager to get to work!

It was a pleasure to connect with so many LFC™ participants and alumni during Congress 2025 and to hear firsthand how the programme is impacting their work and leadership. Stories were shared through the Impact Hub, and Congress attendees had the opportunity to learn what’s next for LFC™ through dedicated sessions and informal conversations. We also held a special session for NNAs licensed to deliver the LFC™ programme, where we introduced a new process for submitting data and improving workshop delivery and efficiency. We took a moment to recognize the outstanding leadership of Dr Kristine Qureshi and her contributions to the growth of LFC™.

Following a successful Congress, we’re thrilled to announce that Nurses for Peace will receive a generous donation of $100,000 from Direct Relief. This contribution marks a significant step forward in our shared commitment to supporting nurses working in crisis and conflict-affected regions. We’ll be sharing more details soon on how these funds will be allocated, and we’re already looking forward to seeing the incredible projects this support will help bring to life.

Nurse Leadership for Crisis Response and Recovery (NLCRR)

During the Congress, the NLCRR programme was presented in a dedicated panel session featuring Kateryna Komar, Chief Nurse Officer of Ukraine, and Pavlina Guk, National Professional Officer for Nursing and Midwifery at WHO. Joined by ICN representatives, they shared powerful reflections on advancing nurse leadership in crisis settings and the importance of sustained collaboration. This programme equips nurses with advanced skills in crisis leadership, coordination, and system rebuilding—so they can lead not only during the crisis, but far beyond it. Mental health support for nurses remains a central pillar of the initiative. 

Humanitarian Liaison

Over the past few months, we’ve been in active dialogue with several National Nursing Associations (NNAs) to better understand the humanitarian challenges they face and strengthen their connections with our partner organisation Direct Relief. We had the opportunity to have in-person meetings with many of our National Nurses Associations, including the National Nurses Association of Kenya (NNAK), the Palestinian Nursing and Midwifery Association (PNMA), the Jordanian Nursing and Midwifery Council (JNMC) and the Association Mauritanienne des Infirmiers (MNA).

Girl Child Education Fund

GCEF continues to witness the inspiring progress of our students in Eswatini, Kenya, Uganda, and Zambia, where our beneficiaries remain committed to their education and building brighter futures. During the ICN Congress in Helsinki, attendees heard powerful testimonies from our National Nursing Associations (NNAs), who shared firsthand how GCEF has transformed lives. We also welcomed insights from a child psychologist from Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), who highlighted the critical link between education and psychosocial wellbeing in childhood. To support this cause, donations can be made through ICN's bank account or online portal.

ICN Congress

The 2025 ICN Congress in Helsinki, Finland, was a massively successful event, bringing together over 7’000 attendees from around the globe to celebrate the theme: Nursing Power to Change the World.

Held from 9–13 June 2025 at the Messukeskus Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre, our Congress showcased the strength, unity, and innovation of the global nursing community.

We were proud to host an incredible lineup of speakers, including Amelia Tuipulotu, Byron Scott, Carolyn Jones, Helen Clark, James Buchan, and many others whose insights inspired and energized participants. We were also honoured to receive special messages from Pope Leo XIV, President of Finland Alexander Stubb, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Ursula von der Leyen, Yungblud, and Björn Ulvaeus from ABBA, who sent unique and heartfelt messages. Watch the Congress recap video here!

We would like to express our sincere gratitude and congratulations to the ICN Congress 2025 Scientific Committee for their outstanding work and dedication. The Committee provided essential scientific and technical guidance, and played a key role in shaping a high-quality, well-structured, and internationally balanced programme for our Congress. The full list of Scientific Committee members are available on the ICN Congress website.

Finally, we wish to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended, supported, and contributed to the Congress — our volunteers, ePoster submitters, speakers, and all those who made this event unforgettable. We extend our deepest gratitude to the Finnish Nurses Association and the City of Helsinki for their warm hospitality and exceptional collaboration.

Together, we’ve shown that nurses truly have the power to change the world.

New ICN President and Board

The election of the new 2025–2029 Board of Directors during the Council of National Nursing Association Representatives (CNR) meeting in June in Helsinki marked a major milestone in ICN’s governance calendar. We are delighted to welcome this new leadership to guide the organization’s strategic direction over the next four years.

• José Luis Cobos Serrano - President
• Sineva Maria Ribeiro – First Vice President
• Megumi Yamaura-Teshima – Second Vice President
• Perpetual Ofori-Ampofo – Third Vice President
• Myrna Abi Abdallah Doumit - Eastern Mediterranean
• Emily McWhirter - West and Central Europe
• Ricardo Correia de Matos - Southern Europe
• Sylvain Brousseau - North America and Caribbean
• Nora E. Barahona De Peñate - Central and South America
• T. Dileep Kumar - South East Asia
• Ching Min Chen - Asia
• Debra Thoms - Pacific and Eastern Asia

The composition of Board committees is currently being finalized and will be announced shortly. As we welcome the new Board, we also extend our deepest thanks to the outgoing Board of Directors for their exceptional service, leadership, and dedication over the past four years. Their work has laid a strong foundation for the future of ICN and the global nursing profession.

Congress 2027

The final act of the Congress was the handing over of the baton to the Taiwan Nurses Association, which will hold ICN’s 31st Congress in Taipei on 8-11 July 2027. We look forward to seeing you there!

ICN Awards

Four awards were presented at the ICN Congress Opening Ceremony.

The Kim Mo-Im Policy Innovation and Impact Award was presented to Dr William Rosa, who designed and launched a multi-pronged programme of innovative policy-focused education and research to achieve universal palliative care access. The ICN/FNIF International Achievement Award was presented to Dr Hiromi Sanada for her exceptional contributions to nursing science, particularly in gerontological care, wound management, and disaster response.  The ICN Partners in Development Award was presented to Direct Relief whose impactful collaboration with ICN, particularly their efforts to integrate nurses’ insights into disaster response and humanitarian relief, has significantly contributed to improving health outcomes during crises around the world. ICN’s Health and Human Rights Award was given to the Right Honourable Helen Clark. Read more here.

ICN ePoster awards

The ICN ePoster Award was introduced for the first time at this year’s Congress to recognize outstanding contributions to e-poster presentations. The awards were determined by a dedicated subcommittee of the Scientific Planning Committee for the ICN Congress 2025 in Helsinki, Finland. The evaluation process considered three key criteria:

• Original abstract peer review score – as determined during the initial abstract review process.
• Engagement – measured by the number of views on the Congress app.
• Presentation quality – based on the overall visual design, clarity, and coherence of the ePoster.

See the full lists of awards and winners on our website.

International Nurses Day

While we launched our IND report a month early this year, we celebrated IND with the launch of the State of the World’s Nursing report (see earlier post) issuing a rallying cry to governments around the globe for urgent nursing support.