Uploaded October 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Civilian gun violence had become a major global public health crisis. Around 600 people lost their lives to gun-related injuries every day, and many more suffered long-term physical and psychological harm. The burden was unevenly distributed, disproportionately affecting men and young people. Just six countries accounted for two-thirds of all global gun deaths, underscoring the urgency of identifying effective, evidence-based solutions. Addressing this crisis required a holistic understanding that integrated health impacts, economics, political dynamics, and sociocultural factors.
This World Health Summit 2025 Global Health Lab session – co-hosted by the Boston University School of Public Health and the WHS Academic Alliance – explored interdisciplinary strategies to confront global gun violence. The discussion was moderated by Adnan A. Hyder (Boston University School of Public Health). It highlighted the need for research-driven policy, multisector collaboration, and coordinated action across countries and regions.
Speakers Michele Gonçalves dos Ramos (Ministry of Justice and Public Security, Brazil), Adèle Kirsten (SAMRC), Lorena Barberia (University of São Paulo), and Pamela Das (The Lancet) examined the root causes of gun violence and shared insights from public health, political science, and policy research. They discussed successful interventions, barriers to implementation, and opportunities for more comprehensive global action.
The session emphasized how evidence-led, interdisciplinary approaches could help governments and communities design impactful policies and reduce the global toll of gun violence.
The World Health Summit is the leading global platform bringing together science, politics, civil society, and the private sector to catalyze collaborative and innovative solutions for key health priorities. Learn more: worldhealthsummit.org
Civilian gun violence had become a major global public health crisis. Around 600 people lost their lives to gun-related injuries every day, and many more suffered long-term physical and psychological harm. The burden was unevenly distributed, disproportionately affecting men and young people. Just six countries accounted for two-thirds of all global gun deaths, underscoring the urgency of identifying effective, evidence-based solutions. Addressing this crisis required a holistic understanding that integrated health impacts, economics, political dynamics, and sociocultural factors.
This World Health Summit 2025 Global Health Lab session – co-hosted by the Boston University School of Public Health and the WHS Academic Alliance – explored interdisciplinary strategies to confront global gun violence. The discussion was moderated by Adnan A. Hyder (Boston University School of Public Health). It highlighted the need for research-driven policy, multisector collaboration, and coordinated action across countries and regions.
Speakers Michele Gonçalves dos Ramos (Ministry of Justice and Public Security, Brazil), Adèle Kirsten (SAMRC), Lorena Barberia (University of São Paulo), and Pamela Das (The Lancet) examined the root causes of gun violence and shared insights from public health, political science, and policy research. They discussed successful interventions, barriers to implementation, and opportunities for more comprehensive global action.
The session emphasized how evidence-led, interdisciplinary approaches could help governments and communities design impactful policies and reduce the global toll of gun violence.
The World Health Summit is the leading global platform bringing together science, politics, civil society, and the private sector to catalyze collaborative and innovative solutions for key health priorities. Learn more: worldhealthsummit.org
