Joint Statement by Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy and Secretary of State Marco Rubio: United States to Serve as Secretariat of the Geneva Consensus Declaration

As the Secretariat of the Geneva Consensus Declaration returns to the United States, we express our deep appreciation to Hungary for its exceptional stewardship. Hungary has faithfully safeguarded the Declaration and its principles, and we are grateful for its leadership and commitment to expanding the Declaration’s signatories.

The United States will carry this work forward through a whole-of-government effort led jointly by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of State. The Secretariat will be housed within the Office of Global Affairs at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Established in 2020, the Geneva Consensus Declaration, led by the United States, began as a joint initiative with a few like-minded countries. Today the group has grown to include more than 40 signatories.

The Declaration has four main objectives: to secure meaningful health and development gains for women; to protect life at all stages; to defend the family as the fundamental unit of society; and to work together across the UN system to realize these values.

The Trump Administration is committed to supporting families, promoting women’s health, and protecting children at all stages of life. Investing in women’s health and well-being saves lives, allows women and girls more opportunities, and protects the family as the fundamental unit of society.