Co-authored by Elizabeth Mason, Gita Sen, and Alicia Ely Yamin on behalf of the UN Secretary-General’s Independent Accountability Panel, this 2020 editorial examines the political and legal prerequisites for achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) for women, children, and adolescents.

The text discusses how health inequities are shaped by structural factors, including power differentials, social marginalisation, and systemic discrimination within and beyond health systems. The authors outline states’ obligations under international law to integrate comprehensive care—including sexual and reproductive health and rights—into national UHC packages across the life course. Addressing issues such as gender-based violence, global financing inequalities, and access to health products, the editorial highlights the importance of legal accountability, civic participation, and data systems in ensuring that health services respond to the needs of the populations they serve.