News and Opinions  –  2024

ReAct at UNGA in New York!

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2024-10-24

At the end of September, ReAct participated in the United Nations High-Level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in New York, emphasizing the urgent need for increased global collective action in a number of areas.

ReAct’s engagement included organizing our own side event, speaking at panels. And of course making an intervention on September 26 at the High-Level Meeting, which acknowledged the efforts behind the declaration and important steps forward, but also reflected our disappointments with government’s watered out commitments in key areas.

Additionally, through various side events and a news-style TV-program release, ReAct advocated for increased cross-country solidarity and the need to consider the needs of low- and middle-income countries and the health of vulnerable populations in the face of rising antibiotic resistance.

Otto Cars, founder of ReAct, is making a statement at the United Nations High-Level Meeting AMR in New York, 26th September, 2024. Photo: ReAct

ReAct statement at UNGA HLM AMR

ReAct attended the United Nations High-Level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in New York. During the meeting, Prof. Otto Cars delivered an intervention from the floor on behalf of ReAct.

Read full statement

From People to Leaders: Act on AMR NOW! Side-event and exhibition

Side-event starting up. Photo: ReAct.
At the From People to Leaders exhibition you found 5 of the 300 portraits. Photo: White Ribbon Alliance.

The “From People to Leaders: Act on AMR NOW!” campaign is a global initiative aimed at addressing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) through mobilizing communities and civil society around a common call for global action.

In the lead up to the UN High-Level Meeting, the global campaign held a side event showcasing the various roles of civil society and communities in the global AMR response. The gathering brought together civil society groups, communities, health officials, policymakers, and advocates to discuss the experiences from ongoing work and how to raise up these perspectives to the global policy arena.

The event featured panel discussions and presentations highlighting successful strategies and innovative approaches to address AMR, emphasizing the integration of AMR into national health policies and the importance of public awareness. An accompanying exhibition showcased initiatives from various organizations.

Rabia Khaji, SHDEPHA+, handed over the list of signatures to Cara Gala, representing the permanent mission of Malta to the United Nations. Photo: ReAct.

The side event also included a  handover of the 730 signatories for the “Call for Global Action” on AMR, 200 of them from communities and civil society groups.

Read full article about the side-event and the exhibition.

Find full list of civil society groups and communities that signed the From People to Leaders: Act on AMR NOW! Call for Global Action.


Statements from supporters of the global campaign.

Release TV-program: Defending Our Health: Unravelling Antimicrobial Resistance

ReAct also proudly announced its participation in the ITN Business TV-program, Defending Our Health: Unravelling Antimicrobial Resistance.

As part of the program, ReAct filmed in the Matero community of Lusaka, Zambia, where the challenges of managing  antibiotic resistance are felt firsthand.The program was released the day before the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Meeting on AMR in New York on September 26th.

Read press release & access program.

Access TV-program, Defending Our Health: Unravelling Antimicrobial Resistance.


See ReAct’s film on Youtube.

Breaking the Resistance: Fighting AMR and TB Together for a Healthy Future

Dr. SS Lal, ReAct Asia Pacific (second person from right) at the TB side-event in New York. Photo: Stop TB Partnership.

Dr. S.S. Lal, Director, ReAct Asia Pacific, spoke at the Stop TB Partnership side event before the UN General Assembly High-Level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). The event, “Breaking the Resistance: Fighting AMR and TB Together for a Healthy Future,” highlighted the shared challenges of tuberculosis (TB) and AMR.

Dr. Lal emphasized the need for synergy between the TB and AMR communities, suggesting AMR could learn from the Stop TB Partnership’s successes in governance and funding. He stressed that delayed TB diagnosis leads to antibiotic overuse, and improving TB management could positively impact AMR. He also called for initiatives, such as reallocating Global Fund resources, to address AMR.

Safeguarding women’s and children’s health, while fighting antibiotic resistance

Tracie N. Muraya, ReAct Africa speaks at the panel. Photo: ReAct.

Tracie N. Muraya from ReAct Africa, was invited to speak on a panel organized by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Unitaid  focusing on safeguarding women’s and children’s health, while fighting antibiotic resistance. Tracie pointed out the importance of including  communities in the response e, holding leaders accountable and making AMR relatable.

Fostering Cross-Country Solidarity to Address Antimicrobial Resistance in the WHO European Region and Beyond

Helle Aagaard, ReAct Europe. Photo: ReAct.

Helle Aagaard from ReAct Europe was invited to present at a side-event arranged by the Swedish Public Health Agency, the Permanent Mission of Sweden to the United Nations New York and the World Health Organization Collaborating Center for AMR containment. The theme was: Fostering Cross-Country Solidarity to Address Antimicrobial Resistance in the WHO European Region and Beyond!

On behalf of ReAct, Helle Aagaard was able to share our experiences on how to move towards a more sustainable and inclusive response to AMR and how actors like ReAct and other groups based in civil society with global reach can support such efforts.

Andrea Caputo Svensson, ReAct Europe hands over the signatures of the From People to Leaders: Act on AMR NOW! Call for Global Action to Sweden’s AMR Ambassador Ms. Malin Grape. Photo: ReAct.

Following this event, the campaign “From People to Leaders: Act on AMR NOW!” also got the opportunity to hand over the signatures and the ‘Call for Global Action’ to Sweden’s AMR Ambassador Ms. Malin Grape.

Dialogue on X

As a lead-up to the UNGA High-Level Meeting on AMR, ReAct and The AMR Narrative jointly organized a community dialogue on X.com (previously Twitter).

This 60-minute dialogue focused on how people, patients, carers, and survivors can become community leaders in tackling the global challenge of AMR.

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