A turning point for HPV elimination: the new UN Political Declaration
For the first time, the United Nations General Assembly has called for boys to be included in HPV vaccination programmes. This is an important step towards ensuring that protection against HPV extends to both girls and boys.
Adopted by 175 member states on 15 December 2025, the Political Declaration on noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health includes a commitment to eliminate cervical cancer by scaling up, where appropriate, “human papillomavirus vaccination coverage for girls and boys”.
The inclusion of boys recognises their role in achieving cervical cancer elimination and strengthens the case for routine universal HPV vaccination. It also provides an opportunity to broaden the conversation about HPV prevention to include the range of cancers and diseases affecting both women and men.
For NOMAN, this marks an important milestone in our work with Global Action on Men’s Health (GAMH) and partners to secure routine universal HPV vaccination globally by 2030. Together, we advocated for the inclusion of girls and boys in the declaration. The agreed language gives advocates a new tool to engage governments and press for national action.
Turning political commitment into protection
The declaration does not automatically change national vaccination policies. Its impact will depend on governments translating their commitments into funded programmes that reach girls and boys.
To support this work, NOMAN and GAMH have published a briefing explaining the declaration and how advocates can use it. It encourages organisations to engage their ministries of health on implementation, support the inclusion of all HPV-related cancers in national cancer and NCD plans, and work with partners across cancer prevention, immunisation and adolescent health.
The next step is to ensure that this global commitment leads to wider access to vaccination and progress towards preventing HPV-related cancers and diseases in everyone.
Read the report
Support the global call for routine universal HPV vaccination: www.endhpvglobal.org
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