Gender being weaponised, politicised, reveals Lancet report

A new report released in the Capital has highlighted how a widespread lack of understanding around gender is adversely affecting health outcomes across the globe. The report, ‘Achieving Gender Justice for Global Health Equity’, was launched by the Lancet Commission on Gender and Global Health at a high-level event attended by over 100 leaders from politics, academia and civil society on Monday.

According to the commission, gender is being increasingly weaponised, politicised and misinterpreted in global health spaces. This trend, they say, is having a harmful impact on the formation and implementation of national and international health policies. The authors warn that health experts are now in the fight to push back against anti-gender rhetoric and safeguard the gains made in gender justice.

Commissioners involved in the multi-year study examined how gender has been manipulated in ways that hinder health progress. The group, made up of experts from nine countries, argue that greater inclusion and understanding of gender can significantly improve public health outcomes. However, the rise in opposition to gender-sensitive approaches is threatening that potential.

“In India, we must guard against any backsliding in the progress we have made in linking gender with health,” said Indrani Gupta, LCGGH commissioner and head of the health policy research unit at the Institute of Economic Growth. She added, “Misunderstandings around gender have contributed to unequal health outcomes. We urgently need to bridge the gap between research, ideas and action.”

The report outlines three key recommendations to help global health systems address these issues. First, the commission suggests examining whether a formal international legal definition of gender is needed to establish clarity and protection. Second, it calls for the creation of a dedicated platform to collect integrated gender-related health data. Lastly, it proposes the introduction of ring-fenced funding for gender justice initiatives through taxes on health-harming products.

Ravi Verma, LCGGH commissioner and executive director of ICRW Asia, said prioritising gender justice had already led to measurable improvements in India’s health landscape. “In areas where gender-responsive health policies have been implemented, we see reduced inequalities and better wellbeing for all,” he said. “These recommendations serve as a toolkit that can be adapted across different local contexts in India.”

The Lancet Commission on Gender and Global Health is a multidisciplinary body co-chaired by Sarah Hawkes, head of global population health at Monash University Malaysia, and Elhadj As Sy, chair of the Kofi Annan Foundation. The commission includes researchers, policy experts and grassroots health practitioners, all working at the intersection of gender and health.

The report calls for urgent collaboration across sectors to integrate gender justice into health governance.

Delhi