1 November 2025 – Geneva: WFUNA and the World Health Organization (WHO) concluded the 3rd edition of Global Model WHO (GMWHO) today, bringing together over 400 youth delegates from 60 countries. Hosted at WHO Headquarters in Geneva, the conference simulated the World Health Assembly, the world’s peak health decision-making body, giving delegates the opportunity to debate and draft resolutions on the social determinants of health.
This year’s focus: loneliness, social isolation, and mental well-being
Throughout the four-day conference, delegates discussed and negotiated policies and strategies inspired by the new WHO Commission on Social Connection (2025), which recognizes social health as an essential but long-overlooked pillar of human well-being—alongside physical and mental health.
Adoption of the Global Model WHO Youth Declaration on Social Connection
In a highlight of the week, delegates adopted the Global Model WHO Youth Declaration on Social Connection, urging WHO Member States to implement the recommendations of the Director-General’s Report on Mental Health and Social Connection (EB156/8) and to prioritize social connection within the Fourteenth General Programme of Work (2025–2028).
The declaration emphasizes that “connection is not a luxury—it is a lifeline,” calling for national strategies, community investments, and inclusive digital policies that foster belonging and reduce loneliness. It urges Member States to recognize that social isolation carries health risks comparable to smoking or obesity, and that tackling it requires cross-sector action—spanning education, urban design, technology, and mental-health services.
“Social connection is a missing pillar of global health,” said Ida Marchese, Director-General of Global Model WHO 2025. “Our generation has grown up in an age of digital connection but social disconnection. This declaration is our call to rebuild communities where every person feels seen, valued, and supported.”
WFUNA Secretary-General Aziel Goulandris commended the delegates’ efforts, noting that the declaration “shows the impact that youth diplomacy can have on public policy” calling for Member States to take the Declaration into consideration in their proceedings.
Read the full Youth Declaration on Social Connection here.
The Global Model WHO is one of WFUNA’s Global Citizenship Education initiatives, alongside the WFUNA International Model United Nations (WIMUN) conferences held annually in New York City, Singapore, and around the globe.
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