​

Happiness is a universal desire shared and understood by everyone across borders, languages, cultures, and religions. 

 

In 2011, led by Bhutan, UN General Assembly Resolution 65/309 agreed, for the first-ever time, that happiness matters. Fifteen years on, the evidence on what creates happiness is now sufficiently mature to continue what Bhutan started.

 

This starts with social connection.

 

We affirm that social connection is a foundational pillar underlying progress across the international agenda: from public health and well-being; youth development and healthy ageing and digital governance and democratic resilience, to economic development, climate adaptation, disaster preparedness, and peacebuilding. 

 

We recognise the importance of protecting and investing in social connection as a central pillar of sustainable development that enables populations to flourish and builds healthier, happier societies.

 

We will work to accelerate the political momentum on social connection across relevant high-level UN discussions, including those relating to happiness and broader well-being, and continue dialogue with agencies, experts, and civil society across the year ahead, building on the work of the WHO Commission on Social Connection to drive evidence-based actions and policies that harness the power of connection for all. 

 

This is the beginning of the next steps in a long-awaited policy agenda.

 

​

 

Signed:

 

Werner Obermeyer, Director, World Health Organization Office at the United Nations

Silvia Mathis, Actress and Producer, Board Member of Kindness.org

Liza Soberano, Actress and Producer (Forgotten Island)

David Oyelowo, Actor and Director (Selma, Silo)

Abigail Somma – Author, What the Hummingbirds Taught Me

 

All Tech Is Human

Association Connect!

Awareness Courage and Love Global Project 

Ciao Table

Community Access, Inc.

Compeer 

Fondation Miroir Foundation

Fundación Keralty 

Global Initiative on Loneliness and Connection 

Healthy Places by Design

Initiative GemEinsamkeit

Institute for Social Capital

joinsolly.com

Lisners

Only7Seconds

The Be Happy Project

Thursday 

Punkin Studios

Umano