The dialogue was held in conjunction with the 62nd session of the Human Rights Council, which runs from 15 June–7 July. The webinar was co-organized by the World Council of Churches, with the NGO Committee on the Status of Women Geneva Working Group on Health, Medical Women’s International Association, International Cancer Expert Corps, Oxford University, World Federation for Mental Health, and United Voices for Global Impact. Keynote speaker Nicoletta Dentico is an Italian journalist, writer, and senior policy analyst in global health, known for her leadership on global health justice, equitable access to medicines, and civil society engagement in WHO and wider global health governance. She spoke about how health inequity exists everywhere—even in places where there is a specific mandate to treat patients as people. “Indeed, this arena of discourse is crucial,” she said. “We are indeed in a crisis of care moment, notwithstanding the many, clear lessons of COVID-19”—a shared trauma. “The most important lesson is that we are all vulnerable,” she said, adding that it is important to recognize when religious are playing a very negative role in the context of health inequity. Dr Manjit Dosanjh, a scientist and visiting professor of physics at the University of Oxford, moderated the conversation. She said: “Disparities are growing. The ‘have-nots’ are having less and less. We need to actually own the problems and bring in people who live the issues at the grassroots globally and listen to them since those who live the challenges not only need to be part of the solution, they actually are best placed to find the solution. We need to leverage the so called ‘technology revolution’ to bridge the gap and not increase the inequities.” Dr Eleanor Ann Nwadinobi, a Nigerian medical doctor and international expert in health, gender, and human rights, spoke of the factors that amplify vulnerability, including climate change, gender, and many more. “There is a multiplicity of vulnerability, or layers of vulnerability,” she said, noting, for example, in some societies widows can be vulnerable on many levels. “They lose their spouse and, at the same time, lose their social status, lose their property, sometimes lose their children.” On account of polygamy, in certain parts of Africa, the death of one man may result in multiple widows. “What does this mean?” asked Nwadinobi. “You have child widows.” Gracia Violeta Ross, WCC programme executive for HIV, Reproductive Health, and Pandemics, spoke about combatting stigma. “Stigma is a mark that signals we are not desirable,” she said. “It used to be religious.” She noted that stigma, unfortunately, does not come alone but leads to discrimination and other forms of inequity. Dr Gisela Hansen, a clinical psychologist and university professor specializing in addictions, gender, stigma, and mental health, spoke of how health inequity is rooted in a broader structural system. “These experiences are not secondary issues at all,” she said. “Today we know what works. We need to listen to the communities. Communities have the expertise.” Dr Manoj Kurian, director of the WCC Commission of the Churches on Health and Healing, expressed appreciation for the many connections discerned during the conversation. “If we are one body, and one hand is in water, and one hand in fire, can we say we are, on average, fine?” Kurian asked. “We can’t, because there is no averages, actually. We have to be one and in solidarity with each other.” | 
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