Thank you, Mr. Moderator,
We thank the President of the General Assembly for convening this timely and inclusive discussion and the Permanent Representatives of Luxembourg and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines for their leadership in steering the current preparatory process. Italy strongly supports integrated strategies that link health, food security, and sustainable food systems.
The multifaceted nature of noncommunicable diseases and mental health conditions demands integrated, cross-sectoral strategies. We therefore welcome this panel’s focus on effective governance and collaborative action.
As we prepare for the upcoming negotiations let me take this opportunity to underline the relevance of the following principles in guiding our discussions:
Addressing the wide-ranging determinants and impacts of NCDs calls for an integrated and holistic response that prioritizes prevention and health promotion across all sectors. Our response must combine individual-level strategies with cross-sectoral and multi-stakeholder policies, in line with the “Health in All Policies” and the One Health approach.
Indeed, we believe that health is also the result of balanced lifestyles, including health enhancing physical activity, and healthy diets that need to be assessed comprehensively with an emphasis on variety, balance, moderation and sustainability. Health outcomes depend on the overall quality of the diet, not on the consumption of individual foods. We underline in this regard the importance of food education programs and policies, particularly for younger generations, to foster sustainable dietary choices, and to make consumers more informed.
Second, Italy strongly advocates for a whole-of-society approach to the fight to NCDs that mobilizes all levels of government, policy sectors, and stakeholders. We underscore the importance of engaging the private sector and promoting public-private partnerships, which have proven to be effective tools in developing innovative and scalable solutions to address public health challenges. Cross-sector collaboration must be at the heart of our response to NCDs and the promotion of mental health and well-being.
Third, we believe the declaration should avoid overly prescriptive language and, at the same time, reaffirm the principle of national ownership. Recognizing each country’s specific context and priorities is essential to ensure effective and sustainable outcomes.
We look forward to continuing our constructive engagement.
Thank you.
