7 March 2025, Online – The Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM), represented by Hon. Tuba Durgut (Türkiye), Vice-President of the PAM Women Parliamentary Forum (WPF), participated and contributed to the first hearing of the Noncommunicable Disease and Mental Health Legislators’ Initiative meeting organized by the G20 and G7 Health and Development Partnership and the United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases.
Established in 2024, on the occasion of a H20 meeting in Geneva, between the G20 & G7 Health and Development Partnership (G20HDP), the UN Inter-Agency Task Force, and the Health4Life Fund, this initiative aims to catalyze both domestic and international multisectoral collaborations and scale up financing to support countries in reducing the socioeconomic impact of NCDs and mental health conditions.
In her remarks, Hon. Durgut emphasized PAM’s ongoing efforts to promote health and well-being, focusing on the growing global challenges of non-communicable diseases and mental health, particularly in conflict-affected regions. She stressed the importance of international cooperation to tackle these pressing issues, which affect millions of vulnerable individuals.
Hon. Durgut highlighted PAM’s strong commitment to One-Health, a key priority for the Assembly, as demonstrated by the ongoing research led by Dr. Massimo Giangaspero, PAM-CGS Senior Advisor on the matter. She also mentioned PAM’s work in addressing the consequences of conflicts, especially in regions like Gaza, Israel, Syria, and Libya, where PAM has mobilised its network to support affected populations, especially women and children.
In her speech, Hon. Durgut also emphasized the critical importance of addressing the mental health consequences of pandemics, armed conflicts, natural and man-made disasters, and human trafficking. She reiterated PAM’s role in fostering cooperation with international organisations to ensure timely and effective assistance for communities affected by such crises.
PAM held further bilateral talks with the G20 & G7 Health and Development Partnership and WHO executives to explore ways for PAM and the G20 & G7 Health and Development Partnership to establish a structured cooperation. This could take the form of an MoU to support concrete actions, especially concerning Non-Communicable Diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and mental health issues. PAM’s operational capabilities, international standing, and extensive regional engagement were emphasized as assets, along with its readiness to assist with practical implementation. Discussions highlighted the need for clear priorities, follow-up mechanisms, and avoiding duplication, suggesting the designation of a team of PAM delegates to actively contribute to upcoming hearings and events of G20HDP, while also inviting G20HDP representatives to attend and contribute to the 3rd Edition of the PAM Marrakesh Economic Forum, to be held on 23-24 May, in Morocco. //