On Thursday, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. declared that the United States would not endorse a United Nations declaration aimed at combating chronic diseases. He controversially claimed the document promoted abortion and ‘radical gender ideology,’ and furthermore, failed to address what he considered to be the most critical health concerns.
Speaking at a U.N. meeting focused on the prevention and fight against prevalent chronic conditions such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes, Mr. Kennedy did not provide further details on which specific health issues he believed were overlooked by the declaration.
Notably, the declaration’s official text contains no mention of reproductive rights or gender ideology. The term ‘gender’ appears solely in discussions concerning the distinct health challenges encountered by women globally.
Despite the significant opposition from the United States, this declaration, which outlines a series of global health targets, is still anticipated to be approved by the majority of the U.N.’s 193 member states.
This stance follows a pattern set by President Trump, a known critic of the U.N., who earlier this year directed the U.S. to withdraw from the World Health Organization. At that time, his administration cited the WHO’s alleged mishandling of the coronavirus pandemic and its ‘failure to adopt urgently needed reforms’ as reasons for the pullout.
Public health experts expressed bewilderment and disappointment at Mr. Kennedy’s statements, which quickly circulated on social media. Many felt that the U.N.’s ambitious goals for combating noncommunicable diseases aligned closely with the Health Secretary’s own ‘Make America Healthy Again’ initiative, particularly its emphasis on chronic illness, childhood obesity, and the impact of ultra-processed foods.
“The health secretary’s comments were disturbing, misleading, and rife with contradictions,” stated Paula Johns, executive director of ACT Health Promotion in Brazil, during an interview immediately following Mr. Kennedy’s address. She added, “He asserts that the U.S. desires international cooperation on chronic diseases but offers no pathway for it. Instead, he suggests the U.S. prefers to disengage from the U.N. entirely.”
Despite widespread support from global health experts, the declaration had already faced scrutiny for certain recommendations being softened due to industry pressure. Initial drafts included strong measures such as higher taxes and prominent warning labels on tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drinks to reduce consumption. However, the final version removed all direct references to sugary beverages.
Intriguingly, many aspects of Mr. Kennedy’s portrayal of the severe threat posed by chronic illnesses closely echoed the language and concerns found within the U.N. declaration itself.
“Chronic disease has more than doubled in a single generation, leading to millions of children losing healthy years before adulthood,” Mr. Kennedy stated. “This crisis, unfortunately, knows no borders and impacts us all.”
However, he insisted that the U.N. General Assembly had exceeded its authority, and that the United States could not endorse any document perceived to promote abortion or ‘gender ideology.’
“We uphold the biological reality of sex,” Mr. Kennedy declared, echoing President Trump’s sentiment that ‘global bureaucrats have absolutely no business attacking the sovereignty of nations that wish to protect innocent life.’
Attempts to get clarification from the Department of Health and Human Services regarding Mr. Kennedy’s specific remarks on abortion and gender ideology were met with no response.
Many health experts fear that withdrawing from this U.N. process will only further isolate the U.S. on crucial global health matters. This comes at a time when the White House already stands alone in its opposition to greenhouse gas emission reductions, a stance clearly highlighted during recent international discussions on climate change.
“The U.S. appears to be attempting to undermine this process, but it’s unclear how they can succeed now,” commented Alison Cox, policy director at the NCD Alliance. She criticized the move as ‘really shortsighted and unhelpful’ given the urgency of the global health crisis.
Ms. Cox highlighted that the declaration was the culmination of months of negotiations involving civil society groups, health experts, and representatives from numerous member states. She concluded, “While not perfect, it remains a significant accomplishment for global health efforts.”
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), has consistently championed aggressive strategies to combat noncommunicable diseases, which tragically account for 17 million premature deaths annually.
Recently, Dr. Tedros has been a strong proponent of a distinct WHO initiative urging nations to implement a 50 percent tax increase on tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drinks over the next ten years. He projects that such taxes could generate an estimated $1 trillion for government healthcare over a decade, potentially averting 50 million premature deaths in the next half-century.
In his address preceding Mr. Kennedy’s, Dr. Tedros emphasized, “Health is not confined to clinics and hospitals. It originates in our homes, schools, streets, and workplaces—influenced by the food we eat, the products we consume, the water we drink, the air we breathe, and the overall conditions of our living and working environments.”