Healthy Cities Sweden is part of the global WHO project Healthy Cities which engages local governments in health development through a process of political commitment, institutional change, capacity-building, partnership-based planning and innovative projects. About 90 cities are members of the WHO European Healthy Cities Network, and 30 national Healthy Cities networks across the WHO European Region have more than 1400 cities and towns as members.

Member cities develop action plans on the basis of the national goals brought down to the local level.

Through meetings, the network will actively disseminate knowledge and promote the sharing of experience.

Declaration of purpose

The overall goal of the network is to work for quality and equity in public health by contributing to the development of intersectoral public health action. The network will contribute to implementation and development of methods linked to national health objectives. The network will, by itself and through cooperation with other Healthy Cities networks, act as a forum for the capacity building in the member communities. Building on the Belfast Declaration for Healthy Cities, we commit ourselves to: building strong partnerships, alliances and networks, building supportive environments sensitive to the needs of all citizens tackling the wider determinants of health; and creating effective policies, strategies and tools for action.
(The Belfast Declaration was adopted 19–22 October 2003 when the European Healthy Cities movement celebrated its 15th anniversary).