Monaco took part in the 11th High-Level Meeting of the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Small Countries Initiative, held in Bled, Slovenia, from Sunday, May 11 to Tuesday, May 13. Represented by its Department of Social Affairs and Health, the Principality joined eleven other WHO Europe member states with populations under two million to discuss shared public health challenges and solutions.
Launched in 2013, the Small Countries Initiative provides a collaborative platform for nations of similar size to exchange ideas and develop tailor-made approaches to public health. This year’s event, hosted by the Slovenian government, focused on innovation, showcasing projects that could be adapted across other member countries.
Central themes included social participation, digital innovation, personalised care, and preventative health strategies. Monaco took centre stage to present its national Handipact policy — a wide-reaching initiative introduced in 2023 to promote the inclusion and well-being of people with disabilities across all areas of society.
The Handipact initiative drew considerable interest for its cross-sector ambition and practical application. Discussions are now underway with WHO Europe on how the policy might serve as a model internationally, while also benefiting from shared insight and external expertise.
Beyond formal presentations, the conference allowed Monaco to strengthen ties with key decision-makers, international delegates and technical experts — reinforcing cooperation on shared projects maintained throughout the year.
As the global community looks ahead to the 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva later this month (19–27 May), delegates in Bled also addressed WHO’s ongoing financial pressures and the need to ensure concrete, global health outcomes through unity and sustained international collaboration.
