At the 2025 United Nations General Assembly, the United States declined to endorse a new UN health declaration aimed at combating noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and enhancing mental health worldwide. Despite receiving broad international support, the U.S. expressed reservations over aspects of the declaration related to gender and reproductive rights.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. articulated the U.S. position, stating, “We cannot accept language that pushes destructive gender ideology. Neither can we accept claims of a constitutional or international right to abortion.” He further argued that the declaration “exceeds the UN’s proper role while ignoring the most pressing health issues.”
Notably, the declaration does not explicitly address reproductive rights or gender issues, except in the context of specific challenges faced by women. It outlines new targets to address major NCDs such as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease—conditions responsible for 43 million deaths annually, the majority of which are preventable. The declaration also advocates for improved access to affordable medicines and the integration of mental, oral, and renal health services.
However, health advocates have criticized the final document for omitting stronger measures, such as taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drinks, which were removed due to corporate lobbying. Only 19 countries are currently on track to meet the UN’s 2030 goal of reducing premature deaths from NCDs by one-third.
Despite the U.S. objection, the declaration is expected to be adopted in the coming weeks, reflecting a collective commitment among most nations to address the global NCD crisis.
