Background Securing a first-ever United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution on Global Drowning Prevention in April 2021 was a significant political win for the issue. However, global health stakeholders lacked knowledge and ownership of drowning prevention.

Objective To secure a Word Health Assembly (WHA) Resolution on drowning prevention at the 76th WHA in May 2023. A WHA Resolution would build on the UNGA Resolution, with greater specificity around actions that should be taken by Ministers of Health and global health stakeholders.

Policy Analysis Analysis of the political and technical landscape in Geneva identified a need to focus specifically on content - what would feature in a draft resolution – and context – where could drowning prevention fit into a crowded agenda.

Content clearly articulating how the draft resolution differed from and built on the UNGA Resolution, including the role of health sector in delivering community and public awareness and behavioural change campaigns for drowning prevention and a community first aid response.

Context identifying possible entry points for drowning prevention and subsequently positioning drowning within the social determinants of health.

Two Member States championed the draft resolution and drew on their political relationships, including within their respective regional groupings, to secure support.

Policy Implications The WHA Resolution emphasises how drowning prevention can be integrated into health though a series of voluntary actions that all Member States are encouraged to implement. It calls on WHO to support and advance multi-sector action on drowning prevention, including through the establishment of a Global Alliance on Drowning Prevention, and the completion of a Global Status Report on Drowning. Crucially, it includes an accountability framework, with reports on progress to be provided at the World Health Assembly in 2025 and 2029.

Conclusions The draft resolution received widespread support from Member States across all geographies, with over 70 co-sponsors adding their support to the resolution at the WHO Executive Board in February 2023 and adoption by the WHA in May 2023. The first WHA Resolution on Accelerating Action on Global Drowning Prevention is an important milestone for the issue of drowning prevention, especially for the health sector.