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| Rationale |
The health sector has a key leadership role in the building of policies and partnerships for health promotion. |
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An integrated policy approach within government and international organizations, as well as a commitment to working with civil society and the private sector and across settings, are essential if progress is to be made in addressing the determinants of health. |
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| Key commitments |
The four key commitments are to make the promotion of health:- central to the global development agenda
- a core responsibility for all of government
- a key focus of communities and civil society
- a requirement for good corporate practice.
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| 1. Make the promotion of health central to the global development agenda |
Strong intergovernmental agreements that increase health and collective health security are needed. Government and international bodies must act to close the health gap between rich and poor. Effective mechanisms for global governance for health are required to address all the harmful effects of:- trade
- products
- services and
- marketing strategies.
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Health promotion must become an integral part of domestic and foreign policy and international relations, including in situations of war and conflict. |
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This requires actions to promote dialogue and cooperation among nation states, civil society and the private sector. These efforts can build on the example of existing treaties such as the World Health Organization Framework Convention for Tobacco Control. |
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| 2. Make the promotion of health a core responsibility for all of government |
All governments at all levels must tackle poor health and inequalities as a matter of urgency because health is a major determinant of socioeconomic and political development. Local, regional and national governments must:- give priority to investments in health, within and outside the health sector
- provide sustainable financing for health promotion.
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To ensure this, all levels of government should make the health consequences of policies and legislation explicit, using tools such as equity-focused health impact assessment. |
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| 3. Make the promotion of health a key focus of communities and civil society |
Communities and civil society often lead in initiating, shaping and undertaking health promotion. They need to have the rights, resources and opportunities to enable their contributions to be amplified and sustained. In less developed communities, support for capacity building is particularly important. |
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Well organized and empowered communities are highly effective in determining their own health and are capable of making governments and the private sector accountable for the health consequences of their policies and practices. |
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Civil society needs to exercise its power in the marketplace by giving preference to the goods, services and shares of companies that exemplify corporate social responsibility. |
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Grass-roots community projects, civil society groups and women's organizations have demonstrated their effectiveness in health promotion, and provide models of practice for others to follow. |
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Health professional associations have a special contribution to make. |
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| 4. Make the promotion of health a requirement for good corporate practice |
The corporate sector has a direct impact on the health of people and on the determinants of health through its influence on:- local settings
- national cultures
- environments, and
- wealth distribution.
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The private sector, like other employers and the informal sector, has a responsibility to ensure health and safety in the workplace, and to promote the health and well-being of their employees, their families and communities. |
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The private sector can also contribute to lessening wider global health impacts, such as those associated with global environmental change by complying with local, national and international regulations and agreements that promote and protect health. Ethical and responsible business practices and fair trade exemplify the type of business practice that should be supported by consumers and civil society, and by government incentives and regulations. |
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