UN Resolution

At least 230 million people worldwide live with diabetes. In less than 20 years the number of people with diabetes will grow to 350 million, and 80% of these will live in low- and middle-income countries. In many developing countries the burden of diabetes threatens to undermine the benefits of improved standards of living, education and economic growth. Individuals and families fear and experience the disability, reduced quality of life, economic burden, and the lost years of life that untreated diabetes brings. A United Nations Resolution on diabetes will bring this silent killer out of the shadows, improve diabetes care for many and encourage coordinated action to prevent diabetes and its complications. Objective The project seeks to increase global awareness on diabetes by organizing the largest global awareness campaign ever conducted in the area of diabetes aimed at getting the United Nations to adopt a Resolution on Diabetes. Approach The "Unite for Diabetes" campaign (www.unitefordiabetes.org) is led by the International Diabetes Federation and supported by an alliance of diabetes associations, allied organisations, industry partners and people living with diabetes. The campaign is aiming at a United Nations Resolution on diabetes in 2007. A global diabetes messages with focus on developing countries will be rolled out via internet and networking. Global press conferences will be held and journals will be used in order to promote the UN Resolution on diabetes campaign.  Moreover, 25 young people with diabetes, each from different countries, will be trained as Youth Ambassadors, and local diabetes associations will be assisted and encouraged to seek their government's support for the UN Resolution on diabetes.  Expected impact Increased awareness of the current and projected burden of diabetes by the United Nations and its member states Declaration of a UN Resolution on Diabetes on World Diabetes Day 2007 Results at completion Diabetes has been brought to a higher level of attention at WHO and other UN agencies. More than 100 NGO's were educated on diabetes during a UN NGO briefing on 14 November, 2007. The UN Resolution 61/225 on Diabetes was adopted on 20 December 2006. The resolution designated World Diabetes Day on 14 November as an official UN observed day, starting in 2007. IDF has been accredited official status as a UN NGO.

Project data

Area Partner Project responsible Duration Project budget WDF contribution Project number

Global International Diabetes Federation (IDF) Prof. Martin Silink January 2006 - June 2008  Euro 1,200,000 Euro 96,604 WDF05-155

This page was last updated 9-19-2008 by bisl.wdf