World Health Organization
As one of the first seven non-governmental organisations to be accepted into official relations with the World Health Organization in 1948, ICN has worked collaboratively on many projects of mutual interest over the years.
As a non-State actor, every year ICN actively participates in the WHO Executive Board meetings and the World Health Assembly to represent the voice of nurses and nursing to advance global health and promote public health.
Collaborative work with WHO on the nursing profession and health includes:
- Global strategic directions for nursing and midwifery 2021-2025
- Advanced nursing practice
- Patient safety
- Non-communicable diseases and mental health
- Primary health care
- Infection prevention and control
- Climate change and health
In this section
ICN responses to WHO
News
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
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WHO
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
-
WHO
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
-
WHO
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
-
WHO
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