Gro Harlem Brundtland: Putting Health at the Heart of Human Rights

Before she became known as the “mother of sustainable development,” Gro Harlem Brundtland became Norway’s first female Prime Minister, serving three terms between 1981 and 1996. Her impact went far beyond politics. With a background in medicine and public health, Brundtland brought a doctor’s clarity and compassion to the world’s biggest challenges.

As Prime Minister, she strengthened Norway’s public health system, improving access to care and reinforcing that a healthy population was the foundation of a strong democracy. 

In 1998, Brundtland became Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) — the first woman and medical doctor to lead the agency. 

Brundtland declared health a fundamental human right. She pushed health into global policy conversations, linking it with development, poverty reduction, and climate change. Under her leadership, the WHO took bold action against tobacco, infectious diseases, and emerging global threats.

When SARS emerged in 2002–2003, Brundtland led the international response with urgency and transparency. Her leadership helped prevent a wider catastrophe and set new standards for global disease control.

One of her lasting achievements came in 2003, when the WHO, under her direction, adopted the first-ever global health treaty: the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. This landmark agreement paved the way for stricter anti-smoking laws and public health campaigns worldwide, saving millions of lives.

What happens when women lead?

In Norway and worldwide, public health became a priority, global cooperation deepened, and the right to a healthy life was affirmed.