The World Health Organization, in association with the Government of Brazil, organized in October 2011 an international conference on the social determinants of health. The outcome was the “Rio Declaration”. Through it, WHO Member States pledged to put into place policies and strategies which would contribute to the achievement of health equity through addressing the social determinants of health, considering the barriers and opportunities of the national, regional context, including the current WHO reform process. One of the immediate proposals expressed in the Declaration is related to a resolution to be approved in the upcoming 2012 World Health Assembly, ratifying the Declaration. The process to act must take into account not only the Rio Declaration and the commitments made by WHO Member States, but should also consider the proposed actions outlined in a more radical declaration, the “Alternative Rio Declaration”. Issued by civil society organizations, this document calls upon Member States to implement fundamental structural systemic changes in international finance, social and trade policies and practices. The purpose of this session will be to share experiences at the national and international levels as to what is being done to address the social determinants of health as a means of promoting health equity. Through this moderated session, panelists will be asked a series of questions dealing with how their governments and organizations are putting into place practical approaches to address the SDH, and what they propose as solutions to barriers that impede progress. Learning opportunities for participants: information about what transpired at the WHO SDH Conference, its outputs and follow-up action by WHO, national governments and NGOs to address concretely the social determinants of health.