The Role of Health Literacy in Health Promotion :
Celebrating 40th Anniversary of the WHO Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion

Commemorating the 40th anniversary of the WHO Ottawa Charter (OC) for Health Promotion, the strategies and action areas adopted worldwide over four decades have strong relevance for promoting health literacy. The principles of the OC for Health Promotion and the concept of health literacy are closely interconnected, as both emphasize empowering individuals, communities and the whole-of-society to gain greater control over their health. Developed at the first WHO International Conference on Health Promotion (1986), the OC defined health promotion as enabling people to improve their health through healthy public policy, creating supportive environments, strengthening community action, developing personal skills, and reorienting health services.

Health literacy complements and operationalizes these strategies. Without adequate health literacy, individuals may struggle to benefit from health promotion initiatives, navigate healthcare systems, and/or participate fully in decisions affecting their health. Over time it has become evident that at its core the OC speaks the language of health literacy, as the architects of the document had the foresight to offer a vision that is relevant today as ever. The Charter’s emphasis aligns with the current understanding that health literacy is not only an individual responsibility but also an organizational and societal one. Health systems, educational institutions, community organizations and media/digital settings must communicate clearly and create environments that are health literacy appropriate.
As the principles of the OC include enabling, mediating and advocating for health, the relationship between the OC and health literacy has become increasingly important in addressing health inequities. Individuals and communities with limited health literacy often experience poorer health outcomes and reduced access to services. By promoting accessible communication, cultural adaptation, participation, and empowerment, health literacy advances the Charter’s broader goals of equity, social justice, and community participation.

The session panelists are experts from the International Union of Health Promotion and Education Working Group on Health Literacy. The session will begin with a brief introduction by the moderator, acknowledging the presenters, the objectives and outline of the session, briefly presenting the OC, and discussion points for the panel and audience. Five brief presentations will follow to showcase through current research, policy and practice, the synergy between the OC action areas for health promotion and health literacy. Kristine Sorensen will present on the Role of Health Literacy in Healthy Public Policy for All, followed by Tetine Sentell on Critical Health Literacy and Strengthening Community Action, Orkan Okan on School Health Literacy and the Settings Approach to Health Promotion, Gill Rowlands on The Role of Health Literacy in Health Systems to Promote Health, and Diane Levin-Zamir on the Role of Digital Health Literacy in Developing Personal and Organizational Skills for Health Promotion.
The panel and the audience will be invited to discuss and debate strategic issues including, but not limited to:

With the progress that has been made, what is lacking for maximizing the benefits of health literacy for public health and healthcare?

If the OC were to be re-written today, what should it include; what is no longer relevant?

Presenters