Published: June 2025

At the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA78) in Geneva, the Stowelink Foundation founder and CEO was honored to lead and moderate a groundbreaking side event titled “Taking the Right(s) Approach: Driving Action on Obesity and NCDs,” hosted by the Global Obesity Coalition.

In a policy space often dominated by numbers, declarations, and frameworks, this session took a transformative turn—bringing lived experience, rights, and human-centered narratives to the forefront. Representing Stowelink, our CEO Ogweno Stephen, who brings both professional and lived experience with obesity, moderated the panel alongside advocates from South Africa, Spain, and the European Coalition for People Living with Obesity.

Redefining Obesity Through a Rights-Based Lens

The dialogue brought together global policymakers, WHO and UNICEF representatives, civil society leaders, and grassroots advocates. The core focus was clear: reframe obesity not as a personal failure, but as a systemic challenge rooted in rights, equity, and justice.

We explored:

• How corporate influence and marketing shape unhealthy food environments for children and youth.
• The need to replace stigma with support in care systems.
• What true access to nutritious food and health services looks like for marginalized populations, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

The session powerfully connected obesity to broader public health themes—mental health, HIV, poverty, and NCDs—highlighting how rights-based approaches create a “double dividend”: tackling multiple issues with systemic, inclusive solutions.

From Dialogue to Action

This WHA78 event was more than a panel discussion—it was a call to action. As we move toward the UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs and Mental Health in September 2025, our message is urgent:

• Obesity is a human rights issue.
• Youth engagement is not optional—it is essential.
• Lived experience must be a compass, not a checkbox.

Stowelink remains committed to building health systems that don’t just treat disease—but uphold dignity, justice, and humanity. The road to health equity starts with listening—deeply, authentically, and consistently—and acting on what we hear.