For International Day of Parliamentarism, UNITE is spotlighting members from across its network who are advancing legislation that directly impacts health outcomes, addresses intersecting issues, and improves the lives of the communities they serve.
Across UNITE’s global network, parliamentarians are passing legislation and budgets that bolsters the environmental, economic, and social conditions that determine whether people live healthy lives. From establishing diabetes frameworks and accessible cancer treatment to securing health financing and implementing One Health approaches, UNITE members are demonstrating how legislation can protect lives. Â Â
UNITE’s Laws That Save Lives campaign marks International Day of Parliamentarism on 30th June by highlighting the direct impact of legislative action on health outcomes worldwide.
The day commemorates the founding of the Inter-Parliamentary Union and highlights the vital role that parliamentary systems play in protecting the lives of citizens and upholding human rights.Â
As part of the campaign, UNITE members from across the network are sharing the laws they are championing and calling on parliamentarians everywhere to recognize and act on their role as health legislators.Â
My priority is to continue to promote legal frameworks to protect individuals from the main health threats, from chronic diseases to health emergencies.Â
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Hon. Éctor Jaime RamÃrez Barba
Watch the videos hereÂ
Nine current and former parliamentarians from eight different countries across five regional chapters of UNITE have shared stories of their impact in multiple languages, including Arabic, French, Spanish, and Portuguese. Video subtitles are in English.
Participating parliamentariansÂ
Hon. Anadi Sululu (Zimbabwe)Â
Hon. Anne-Cécile Violland (France)
Hon. Dora Pires (Cape Verde)
Hon. Éctor Jaime RamÃrez Barba (Mexico), Chapter Chair for Latin America & The Caribbean
Hon. Hela Jeballah (Tunisia)
Hon. Paula Moeda (Cape Verde)
Hon. Sirpa Pietikäinen (Finland)
Hon. Sonia Sidhu (Canada), Chapter Chair for North America
Hon. Yacine Seynabou Sambe (Senegal)Â
My dedication to parliamentary service is motivated by a core belief, effective legislation for the preservation of lives … On this International Day of Parliamentarism, I reaffirm my commitment to promote public policies and legislation that protect health and improve the lives of our population.
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Hon. Yacine Seynabou SambeÂ
The campaign comes in the run up to the UNITE Global Summit 2026, taking place on August 3rd and 4th in Manila, The Philippines, where parliamentarians will gather with global health leaders and partners to discuss shared health challenges and chart policy actions to advance global health progress.Â
 Find out more at globalsummit.unitenetwork.org/2026.Â
