Revisiting the Ottawa Charter: Still Foundational, But in Need of Change

I agree with Thompson et al. (2017), who argued that the Ottawa Charter remains a foundational document that continues to shape health promotion practice and policy. I think the Charter is still relevant, but we must recognize that today’s world is much different from what it was in 1986. The diversity of populations, as well as their needs and expectations, has expanded, and health promotion must evolve accordingly. Thompson et al. (2017) also noted the need for transformation at all levels to address persistent health inequities. While the Charter itself does not directly reference specific groups or inequalities, I do not believe the intention was to be exclusionary; rather, equity simply was not prioritized to the same degree at that time.

Representation matters when developing public health promotion policy. It should explicitly include gender and sexual diversity to ensure that 2SLGBTQIA+ communities are not overlooked. As Mulé et al. (2009) highlight, health promotion for these populations often becomes narrowly focused on HIV/AIDS, while broader wellbeing issues are ignored. The Charter was groundbreaking when first introduced, but that does not mean it should remain static. Updating or adapting it now would help ensure it reflects current realities and promotes inclusion across all populations, including 2SLGBTQIA+ people and others who have historically been excluded.

Thanks,

Kelsey 

References 

Mulé, N. J., Ross, L. E., Deeprose, B., Jackson, B. E., Daley, A., Travers, A., & Moore, D. (2009). Promoting LGBT Health and Wellbeing Through Inclusive Policy Development. International Journal for Equity in Health, 8(18), https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-9276-8-18 

Thompson, S. R., Watson, M. C., & Tilford, S. (2017). The Ottawa Charter 30 years on: Still an important standard for health promotion. International Journal of Health Promotion and Education, 56, https://0-www-tandfonline-com.aupac.lib.athabascau.ca/doi/pdf/10.1080/14635240.2017.1415765