[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The ISN was granted Special Consultative Status with the United Nations’ (UN) Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in July 2021.<\/p>\n
ECOSOC, one of the six main organs of the UN, is at the heart of its system to advance all three dimensions of sustainable development \u2013 economic, social, and environmental – and is the only main UN body with a formal framework for NGO participation.<\/p>\n
Obtaining Special Consultative Status with ECOSOC is a significant step in ensuring ISN\u2019s presence within multiple UN initiatives and allowing ISN access to ECOSOC\u2019s many subsidiary bodies and forums, multiple human rights mechanisms of the UN, and special events organized by the president of the General Assembly.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n
[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]UNGA81 (September 2026)<\/strong><\/p>\n In September 2026, the ISN, in partnership with Devex, hosted \u201c<\/span>The Health System Stress Test: Integrated NCD Care for UHC.<\/span><\/a>\u201d, a high-level event exploring how integrated approaches to kidney and noncommunicable disease (NCD) care can help build stronger, more resilient health systems.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Watch a recording of the session<\/span><\/b><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The event brought together health, development, and finance leaders, including ISN President Marcello Tonelli, Guyana\u2019s Minister of Health Frank Anthony, and Pan American Health Organization Director Jarbas Barbosa. Discussions focused on how countries can move beyond single-disease approaches toward more sustainable models of NCD care, using kidney health as a test of health-system readiness.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n This ISN\u2013Devex event was supported <\/span>by\u00a0<\/span>ISN Strategic Partners<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]HLM4 (September 2025)<\/strong><\/p>\n At the\u00a0<\/span>4th UN High-Level Meeting (HLM) on noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs)<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0adoption of the political declaration was initially postponed, and the text was referred to the UN General Assembly for a vote as a resolution.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In December 2025, the political declaration was formally adopted.<\/span><\/a>\u00a0Notably, kidney health is mentioned three times in the document, marking the first time kidney disease has been included in a political declaration from a UN High-Level Meeting.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The declaration recognizes the burden of chronic kidney disease, calls for its integrated management in primary care, and specifically recognizes the strong links between diabetes and kidney disease.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]UNGA80 (September 2025)<\/strong><\/p>\n In September 2025,\u00a0<\/span>the ISN,<\/span>\u00a0in partnership with\u00a0<\/span>Devex,<\/span> hosted\u00a0<\/span>Kidney Health Can\u2019t Wait: Turning Commitments Into Action<\/span><\/a>, a high-level event focused on advancing kidney health within the global noncommunicable disease (NCD) agenda.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Watch a recording of the session here<\/span><\/b><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The event, held two days ahead of the Fourth\u00a0<\/span>UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs<\/span><\/a>, brought together policymakers, researchers, and patient advocates to discuss how to translate recent global commitments on kidney health into concrete national action.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n This ISN\u2013Devex\u00a0event was supported by\u00a0<\/span>ISN Strategic Partners<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]UNGA79 (September 2024)<\/strong><\/p>\n On September 25, the ISN hosted dedicated activities to raise awareness of and drive action on kidney disease at the\u00a0<\/span>United Nations General Assembly<\/span><\/a>\u00a0(UNGA) in New York.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n An ISN exhibit booth, \u201cKidney Health Matters: Prioritizing the Silent Epidemic,\u201d realized with the support from the\u00a0<\/span>ISN Strategic Partners,<\/span><\/a>\u00a0showcased data from the\u00a0<\/span>ISN Global Kidney Health Atlas<\/span><\/a>\u00a0to highlight the human and economic burden of kidney disease. ISN Advocacy Working Group Chair Valerie Luyckx co-hosted a fireside chat and presented at the ISN expert panel: \u201cTransformative Health Policies for NCDs: Emphasizing the Importance of an Integrated Approach for Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolic Conditions.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The event yielded highly positive outcomes. The Ministers of Health for Guatemala and Nepal, along with the Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare for Japan, visited the ISN exhibition booth and signed the pledge.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Contact the ISN Advocacy team<\/strong><\/p>\n Get in touch with us for inquiries, collaborations, or support at advocacy@theisn.org<\/a>.<\/a>[\/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner equal_height=”yes”][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″][vc_column_text el_class=”more-resources”]Discover our work with the WHO<\/strong><\/p>\n The ISN is recognized as a non-state actor (NSA) in official relations with the World Health Organization (WHO) participating in the WHO\u2019s World Health Assembly and Executive Board meetings.<\/p>\n Learn more<\/a>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″][vc_column_text el_class=”more-resources”]Subscribe to our newsletter to receive latest updates<\/strong><\/p>\n Receive quarterly updates and stay informed about ISN\u2019s advocacy impact.<\/p>\n