Editorial: The 40th anniversary of the Ottawa Charter marks a new generation of students who are ready to take up the torch and forge a new path for health promotion

Dear members of the EUPHA Health Promotion Section,

The 40th anniversary celebrations of the Ottawa Charter should not just be a walk down memory lane. The best way to ensure this is to involve the next generation of health promoters. Our students have little time for the dreams and regrets of previous generations.

This is why the EUPHA Health Promotion Section is encouraging colleagues teaching public health modules across Europe to engage their students in the project: ‘What would the Ottawa Charter look like if it were written in 2026?‘. We have suggested a process through which students are asked to answer a few questions that will hopefully lead them to create their own version of an Ottawa Charter 2.0 (see details below). They are guided through this process by a reading list that provides insights into the historical background, contributions and shortcomings of the Charter.

We trialled this approach with students enrolled in international MPH programmes in Grenada (Spain) and Rennes (France). The results were extremely interesting.

The students talked about racism, sexism, ageism, homophobia, speculative urbanism, social protection and fiscal and social justice as determinants of health. They also raised the issue of power, its distribution and its use and abuse. They wrote about empowerment, particularly that of their own generation.

They resolutely embraced this emancipatory process from a biomedical perspective that views health as the absence of disease. Their reports repeatedly evidenced their adoption of a concept of health that encompasses the idea of well-being. The social and political dimensions occupy a larger space in their reflections than it did in 1986. They covered themes such as increasing social connections and keeping people out of loneliness and poverty. Students also stressed the need to fight in the political arena.

They also emphasised the importance of repositioning humans within their ecosystems. One group reminded us that ‘we are not the centre of everything‘. Also, sustainability was highlighted: ‘Health promotion not only addresses immediate needs, but also builds a lasting foundation.’

As many of our students are from the Global South, they defended the need for the Ottawa Charter 2.0 to address the past and present damage caused by colonialism and neocolonialism more explicitly. They called for greater recognition of the diversity of world populations and cultures, and for a move away from the Eurocentric perspective of health and public health.

“Should [the Ottawa Charter] be rewritten, priority should be given to those countries that did not participate [in 1986], and steps must be taken to ensure that the diverse nations, cultures, worldviews and traditional knowledge are represented.” [Translated from Spanish.]

Through their texts, we were reminded that the health promotion movement encompasses much more than doing public health differently. It offers a revolutionary perspective on health and well-being. It is about the health sector facing the harsh truth about the unsustainable and inequitable nature of its overemphasis on diseases, individual risk factors, and individual responsibility. It is about questioning how national governments fulfil their social contract (or social compact as would say political philosophers) with their populations in health-related matters.

“What health promotion demands in our time is not merely a technocratic approach, nor a repetition of hackneyed and hollow slogans, but clear, ethically grounded actions that stand on the side of truth and justice.” [Translated from Spanish.]

We encourage you to take part in the 40th anniversary celebrations of the Ottawa Charter by running a similar exercise with your students or colleagues. Your journey for Ottawa Charter 2.0 can start with getting the word out about our June 8^th online workshop for students and early career professionals (co-hosted with EUPHAnxt, see below).

Thank you for reading us,

Eric Breton, President of the Health Promotion Section, French School of Public Health, Rennes
Ainhoa Ruiz Azarola, Escuela Andaluza de Salud Pública, Granada

And the members of the Steering Committee: Elisabeth Nöhammer, Vice President, Chrysanthi Tatsi, Dulce Maria do Nascimento do Ó, John Dierx, Karina Leksy, Michelle Baybutt, Monica O’Mullane, Roosa-Maria Savela, Sherihane Bensemmane, Suzannah D’Hooghe and, Ursula Griebler.

A Party needs People! Celebrating the 40^th anniversary of the Ottawa Charter together

As a section, we are celebrating the Ottawa Charter’s 40^th anniversary this year. And a party needs people!

Here is how you can get involved:

• Join our teaching project ‘What would the Ottawa Charter look like if it were written in 2026?’ (more info below)
• Co-organize webinars with us
• Tell us of your events that we can announce and showcase in the Newsletter or
• Enrich the European Public Health Week – EUPHW with your ideas

Please tell us your interests using this survey so we can get back to you ! We are looking forward to receiving your responses!

What would the Ottawa Charter look like if it were written in 2026? Perspectives from young professionals

Borrowing from the title of Donald Nutbeam’s 2008 paper, we are calling on colleagues teaching on bachelor’s, master’s, PhD’s programmes in public health or related domains to get the voices of their students heard on what an updated perspective on health promotion should look like. The results of these discussions will be featured in our newsletters and in the webinars that we will organise throughout the year. There are many ways to proceed. The schools of public health in Rennes (France) and Grenada (Spain) are trialling a four-step strategy which goes as follow:

• First, have students read on the history of the Ottawa Charter (write to breton@ehesp.fr for a suggested list of readings), and on the context in which it was developed. Have a discussion on the whys and hows and on how the context of public health practice and policy has changed.
• Second, define the destination: What is needed for a population to achieve a high level of health and well-being? Have a conversation on the determinants of health and well-being.
• Third, how to get there? What is the pathway? What strategies are needed?
• Fourth, so then, what is health promotion?

Much care should be taken in keeping our students’ perspectives open (they should not be trapped into the straitjacket of the Ottawa Charter).

This is just one way to do things. Feel free to adapt this strategy or devise a completely different one to give our next generation of public health practitioners, activists and decision makers a voice. Please, do not hesitate to share your experience of the process and the results with Eric Breton (eric.breton@ehesp.fr). As mentioned, we would be delighted to showcase these efforts in our newsletter, webinars and other events.

EPH Conference Bilbao 2026: Pre-conference, workshop, what do you wish for?

Are you planning to attend the European Public Health Conference in Bilbao, and would like to organise a workshop or a pre-conference but are struggling to find speakers? Do not hesitate to let us know so we can get the word out. A workshop is more likely to be accepted when it features speakers from different countries. In case you are looking for collaboration, please do contact us as soon as possible (Elisabeth.Noehammer@umit-tirol.at). Deadline for abstract submission is, as always, May 1^st. And, as you know, time flies!

We hope to see you in Bilbao!

Your section’s Webinars and online workshops

Check out our Newsletters and the Events website of EUPHA for the details. Stay tuned and do not hesitate to suggest topics you would like to see addressed through our webinars. Upcoming are:

29 April – 13.00-14:00 CEST
Health promotion in occupational settings: perspectives from occupational medicine and sociology

This webinar will host two excellent speakers: Pr Evangelia Nena (Democritus University of Thrace, Greece) and Dr Mattia Vacchiano (University of Geneva, Switzerland). Pr Nena’s presentation will focus on ways to promote mental well-being at work and on approaches to managing mental health challenges in occupational settings. Dr Vacchiano will focus on personal network analysis of remote workers.

Attendees need to register here. More information here.

8 June – 13.00-14:00 CEST
What would the Ottawa Charter look like if it were written in 2026?

An online workshop to gain the perspectives of public health students and early career professionals”. Hosted jointly by the EUPHAnxt and Health Promotion sections, this will be the place to be to build a better and stronger future for the health promotion field.

Here is the link to register here. More informaiton here.

Building population resilience

The Health Promotion Section is planning to intensify work on resilience, e.g. via grants, projects, etc. Please do contact us in case you are working on this topic and interested to collaborate with other colleagues (Elisabeth.Noehammer@umit-tirol.at).

Here are some events celebrating the Ottawa Charter

We are planning to build a map of the different events that will take place over the year. We will promote them through our newsletters and help organisers to connect with other colleagues across Europe so their events reach a larger audience.

You can fill out this form to get the word out.

Or alternatively write us (eric.breton@ehesp.fr).

The Ottawa Charter Online Lecture Series: 40 Jahre Ottawa Charta | 40 ans de la Charte d’Ottawa, organised by Santé publique Suisse/ Public Health Schweiz

Throughout the year, Public Health Switzerland will hold a series of online lectures in which the development, implementation, and future prospects of the Ottawa Charter in Switzerland are examined and discussed. Lectures are in English, French or German. AI translation will be provided through Teams.

More info can be found here: Ottawa Charter Online Lecture Series

31st International Conference on Health Promoting Hospitals and Health Services (HPH), 20–22 May 2026, Malmö, Sweden

The conference is held under the theme “Creating Sustainable Healthcare Systems to Promote Health, Equity and Resilience in Times of Global Crises” and builds strongly on the principles of the WHO Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion.

The Charter’s 40^th anniversary is explicitly addressed in the first plenary session, “Advancing Resilient and Sustainable Healthcare Systems: 40 Years of Health Promotion”, including a keynote video message by Ilona Kickbusch, and informs discussions across the program, particularly in sessions focusing on equity, empowerment, sustainability, and the reorientation of health services.

Click here for further information on the conference.

30th Annual Health Promotion Conference, Promoting Wellbeing through Equity: Social and Structural Determinants of Health, 25th June 2026, Galway, Ireland

The Health Promotion Research Centre and its partners, the Department of Health, the Health Service Executive, and the Association for Health Promotion Ireland, are delighted to invite you to the 30th Annual Health Promotion Conference, taking place on 25 June 2026 at the University of Galway.

This is a landmark year for health promotion globally and nationally, marking the 40th anniversary of the WHO Ottawa Charter and 30 years of Health Promotion Conferences at the University of Galway. Reflecting these milestones, the 2026 conference theme will focus on the structural and economic determinants of health, with a central theme of wellbeing through equity.

Visit our website for more information: 30th Annual Health Promotion Conference | Health Promotion Conference

6th Visegrad Four (V4) Public Health Conference (V4 PHC 2026), 9–11 September 2026, High Tatras, Slovakia

We are pleased to share an exciting opportunity for the European public health community to contribute to a vibrant and impactful scientific exchange at the 6th Visegrad Four (V4) Public Health Conference (V4 PHC 2026).

The conference will bring together researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and students from across the V4 countries and beyond to present their work, engage in interdisciplinary dialogue, and foster collaborations addressing pressing public health challenges.

Conference main theme: “Healthy Horizons: Exploring Innovations in Public Health”

The conference is organised by key stakeholders in Slovakia, including Pavol Jozef Safarik University, Faculty of Medicine; the Slovak Public Health Association; the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic; and the Slovak Medical Association. Collaborating partners include EUPHA and national public health associations from Czechia, Hungary, and Poland.

We look forward to seeing a strong representation from the EUPHA network and to your valuable contributions in shaping public health knowledge and practice across Europe.

Iveta Nagyova – Chair, V4 PHC International Scientific Committee
Zuzana Katreniakova – Chair, V4 PHC International Organising Committee

Jubilee Conference, 26–27 November 2026, Vienna, Austria

The Austrian Network for Health Promoting Hospitals and Health Services (ONGKG) will celebrate a special double anniversary: 30 years of ONGKG and 40 years of the WHO Ottawa Charter — two milestones that have significantly shaped health promotion in Austria and internationally.

The conference is organized in cooperation with the Austrian National Public Health Institute (Gesundheit Österreich GmbH — GÖG) and the Federal Ministry of Health. It will focus on the Ottawa Charter action area “Reorienting health services.”

The conference will provide a platform to discuss current challenges in health services, share proven best practice examples, and explore new approaches to health-promoting care systems. Decision-makers and experts from health services, policy, patient organizations and a wide range of professional backgrounds will come together to develop perspectives for future-oriented health care.

Further information is available here (German language).