On July 16, 2025, the long-awaited the Lancet One Health Commission Report was officially published, followed by a global launch event on July 17, marking a major milestone in shaping the future of One Health. The launch brought together policymakers, scientists, and practitioners from over 60 countries, united by the goal of building a healthier, more equitable world through integrated, multisectoral approaches.
We are proud to share that the Women for One Health (WfOH) network contributed a powerful commentary to accompany the report:
“One Health for all – why gender inclusion matters”, published in The Lancet.
Authored by Dr. Heidi Auerswald (Co(joint)-Founding Director of WfOH), Kim Laura Weiszhar (Community Manager of WfOH), Dr. Phaedra Henley (Director of the UGHE Secretariat for WfOH) and Dr. Neil Vezeau(Member of WfOH) this piece was written on behalf of the WfOH Network and serves both as a response to the report and a call to action.
While the Commission’s report provides a strong foundation for integrating One Health into global governance, education, financing, and practice, the WfOH commentary emphasizes an important point:
There is no One Health without gender equity.
Despite women playing critical roles in One Health systems—from governance and research to frontline implementation—their contributions often go underrecognized and underfunded. The commentary calls for structural change and outlines five concrete actions to advance gender inclusion in One Health:
- Embed gender equality in One Health governance structures
- Prioritize gender-disaggregated data and indicators
- Invest in research on gender dimensions of zoonoses, AMR, and climate-related risks
- Create space for women’s leadership and career progression
- Support women’s agency in community-based implementation
This moment represents a significant step forward in amplifying the voices of women in One Health and ensuring that inclusion becomes a real standard, not just an ideal.
📄 Read the full the Lancet One Health Commission Report:
📝 Read our WfOH commentary:
We invite you to read, share, and reflect and to continue advancing this vital conversation with us.