From cervical cancer elimination to HPV elimination: global strategy beyond 2030
On 20 May 2026, NOMAN is an Island: Race to End HPV and Global Action on Men’s Health (GAMH) convened a roundtable in Geneva on the sidelines of the World Health Assembly to discuss the future of HPV prevention.
Bringing together researchers, WHO and government representatives, patient advocates and international partners, the meeting explored how global policy could address the full range of HPV-related cancers and diseases affecting women and men. Our new report captures the evidence presented, the discussions and recommendations for action.
Building the case for universal protection
The roundtable recognised the substantial progress made through cervical cancer prevention, while calling for routine universal HPV vaccination, protecting both girls and boys, to become a core pillar of global strategy now and beyond 2030.
Presentations included long-term findings from Finland on the benefits of universal vaccination in reducing HPV circulation and strengthening herd protection. These findings reinforce the case for including boys as part of efforts to accelerate cervical cancer elimination while preventing other HPV-related diseases.
Participants also considered the burden of HPV-related cancers in men and the limited availability of routine population screening for these cancers, highlighting the importance of vaccination as a primary prevention tool.
Research from northwest Tanzania brought a community perspective to the discussion. It found strong support for vaccinating boys and highlighted how explaining the benefits of HPV vaccination for both sexes can strengthen confidence and acceptance among young people and their families.
Turning evidence into action
The report identifies priorities for a broader HPV prevention agenda: expanding routine vaccination to girls and boys, improving public understanding of all HPV-related diseases, addressing stigma and misinformation, and strengthening the financing and delivery systems needed to reach adolescents.
It also calls for research and economic assessments to reflect the full burden of HPV-related disease, alongside stronger involvement of people with lived experience in advocacy and policymaking.
The December 2025 UN Political Declaration’s inclusion of HPV vaccination for girls and boys provides an important opportunity to advance this work. The report urges advocates and governments to translate that commitment into national policies, funding and implementation.
NOMAN and GAMH will build on the roundtable through continued engagement with WHO and national governments, support for advocacy partners, and opportunities to share evidence and programme experience. Our ambition is to ensure that the global strategy beyond 2030 addresses all HPV-related cancers and diseases, with routine universal vaccination at its centre.
Read the report:
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