The One Health approach aims to integrate the health of humans, animals, and ecosystems, recognizing their interdependence. Although the concept gained prominence during the 2003-2004 SARS outbreak, it has roots in traditional Indigenous practices. By involving multiple sectors and disciplines, One Health seeks to address broad health challenges, including access to clean water, food security, and the impact of climate change, contributing to sustainable development.
Incorporating a gender dimension into One Health reveals how societal norms and power relations create vulnerabilities for women, men, and non-binary individuals. Gender roles influence behaviors that affect human, animal, and environmental health, such as meat consumption, where traditional masculine practices often contribute to environmental degradation. By unmasking these gendered patterns, the approach can foster more sustainable and equitable practices across societies.
A gender-transformative One Health approach goes beyond addressing superficial health issues by challenging entrenched gender norms and power dynamics. It promotes equitable resource distribution, fosters dialogue, and encourages behavioral change to create more egalitarian relationships between men and women. This holistic perspective enables systemic transformations that support both gender equality and healthier, more sustainable interactions with the environment.
Read more on this factsheet by the GIZ Selva Maya programme on this link .