17 November 2025
About the Day
On 17 November 2025, the world marked World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day — designated by the Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly (WHA78.8) as the first official world health day dedicated to eliminating a cancer.
The Day was built on a global movement that began on 17 November 2020, when 194 countries collectively committed to eliminate a cancer for the first time and WHO launched a Global Strategy to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer as a public health problem.
Since then, communities, governments, and partners have united each year to expand access to HPV vaccination, high-performance screening, and treatment services — advancing women’s health, equity, and universal health coverage.
Leaders Act: First Ladies Against Cancer (FLAC) lead the “The Ribbon Ties Our Strength” activation across Nigeria to mark World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day, uniting leaders, families and communities in a shared call for HPV vaccination and cervical cancer screening.
Survivors Act: Advocate Selina Yeop Jr, cervical cancer survivor and founder of Teal Asia, hosts a finale teal fashion show to culminate a week-long series of activities marking World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day, Malaysia.
Youth Act: Medical students from the University of Global Health Equity organize a special event on campus to raise awareness about cervical cancer and Rwanda’s Mission 2027 efforts to reach WHO’s global targets ahead of schedule.
Act now: Eliminate cervical cancer
This moment matters. Every life counts.
This year’s observance, under the theme “Act Now: Eliminate Cervical Cancer,” called for bold, united action to build on existing progress and accelerate impact toward the 90-70-90 targets by 2030:
Elimination is within reach if we act now, together — ensuring every girl is protected through HPV vaccination and every woman has access to prevention, screening, and care.
How the world acted
Governments acted. Youth acted. Communities acted. Survivors acted.
Communities around the world demonstrated how collective effort continues to advance progress toward elimination every day.
Across WHO regions, individuals, organizations and groups came together to raise awareness, mobilize communities, light landmarks in teal, and share powerful stories of commitment to eliminating cervical cancer.
Communities led activities rooted in their own contexts and strengths — from local awareness campaigns and community dialogues to health promotion efforts and social media advocacy.
Every action — large or small — added momentum to the global effort and proved that, when we act together, we move closer to a future where cervical cancer no longer threatens lives.
Will you continue to act for cervical cancer elimination? Join the movement using the toolkit here:
Lighting the way to elimination
This year, landmarks across WHO regions continued to light up in teal — the colour for cervical cancer elimination — symbolizing collective action, solidarity, and hope.
Stories of action and progress
Explore stories of action and progress from countries shaping the global movement to eliminate cervical cancer.
