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ICN brings nursing powers to World Health Assembly amidst global health crises
The International Council of Nurses (ICN) is making the voice of nursing heard at the heart of international health decision-making at the 79th World Health Assembly (WHA79), which opened yesterday.
19 May 2026
Nurses at the Heart of Safe Care: ICN President Speaks at Vatican WASH Event
On 23 April, ICN President Dr José Luis Cobos Serrano brought the voice of the world’s nurses to the Vatican, addressing a high-level NGO event focused on water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in health care facilities.
24 April 2026
ICN supports World Health Day 2026: Nurses stand with science and strengthen trust
On World Health Day 2026, the International Council of Nurses (ICN) supports the World Health Organization’s theme, “Together for health. Stand with science.”, and the launch of a year-long campaign highlighting the importance of scientific collaboration and the One Health approach.
7 April 2026
ICN’s advocacy at WHO Executive Board: Investing in the nursing and health workforce for economic security
As the World Health Organization (WHO) Executive Board (EB) meetings (2–7 February) get underway, the World Health Professions Alliance (WHPA), of which the International Council of Nurses (ICN) is a member, has written to the WHO calling for health workforce investment to be placed at the heart of the draft WHO Strategy on the Economics of Health for All (2026–2030).
2 February 2026
ICN brings strong nursing voice with WHO Climate Report recognition to a challenging COP30
As the 30th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP30), 10–21 November 2025 in Belém, Brazil, fell short on delivering essential climate and health protections, the International Council of Nurses (ICN) made the nursing voice heard loud and clear and rallied for change. ICN’s Americas-based Policy Analyst Dr Gill Adynski attended and advocated for the central role of nursing in climate action alongside a strong cohort of global nurse leaders.
28 November 2025
ICN's World Health Assembly report underscores impact of nursing leadership in shaping global health policy
The International Council of Nurses (ICN) has released its official report on this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA), highlighting a major moment of nursing impact in 2025 and demonstrating how nurses are essential to every pillar of global health at a time when the world faces major health, economic, and humanitarian challenges.
20 November 2025
New WHO report highlights urgency of NCD solutions — but overlooks the vital role of nurses and the health workforce
In advance of next week’s United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) High-Level Meeting on Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs), the World Health Organization (WHO) today released an important new report, “Saving lives, spending less: the global investment case for noncommunicable diseases”. ICN welcomed the report’s urgent focus on preventive measures, but raised concerns about a significant gap: the lack of recognition of nurses and the health workforce as mission-critical to all of these action areas.
18 September 2025
ICN calls for urgent investment to support safer care for all children on World Patient Safety Day 2025
On World Patient Safety Day 2025, the International Council of Nurses (ICN) joins the World Health Organization (WHO) and global health partners to call for urgent investment in safe, child-centred care for every newborn and young person worldwide.
17 September 2025
ICN's new President meets WHO leaders to strengthen partnership and raise critical issues
Last week, newly-elected ICN President Dr José Luis Cobos Serrano met with the World Health Organization’s Assistant Director-General of Health Systems, Dr Yukiko Nakatani, who will oversee the newly-combined WHO Academy, Health Workforce and Nursing department as well as Chief Nursing Officer Dr. Amelia Latu Afuhaamango Tuipulotu and senior health workforce advisers.
9 September 2025
WHPA urges WHO to maintain strong leadership on health workforce
In an urgent letter to WHO leader, WHPA is sounding the alarm at WHO restructuring which risks sidelining health workforce priorities
16 July 2025
ICN applauds completion of negotiations on global pandemic treaty and expresses hope it will offer tangible safeguards for nurses and populations
ICN has welcomed the news that WHO member states have finalized a draft of the Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response Accord, which will act as an important framework for better managing future pandemics.
17 April 2025
ICN welcomes WHO and WEF focus on nursing but warns of effect of US withdrawal from WHO on nurse-led services
Nursing was high on the agenda at this year’s World Health Organization Executive Board sessions in Geneva, with key discussions on extending the Global Strategic Directions for Nursing and Midwifery as well as WHO’s “Workforce 2030” plan on human resources for health.
14 February 2025