International Treaty on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response

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The International Treaty on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response or Pandemic Treaty is a proposed international agreement to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. [1] The 194 World Health Organization (WHO) member states agreed in December 2021 to begin negotiations on a global pandemic treaty, aiming for a draft agreement to be finalized by May 2024 for consideration by the 77th World Health Assembly. [1] [2] [3] The central principle for the instrument is equity. [4]

Contents

Background

Experts argue that the COVID-19 pandemic has "exposed severe limitations in both the International Health Regulations (IHR) and the WHO’s institutional capacities." [5] In light of the pandemic's global devastation, many states called for a stronger international framework to deal with future pandemics. [6] [7]

Responding to these calls, a special session of the World Health Assembly, the WHO's governing body, convened in November 2021. [2] At this meeting, the WHO member states agreed "to establish (...) an intergovernmental negotiating body open to all Member States and Associate Members (the “INB”) to draft and negotiate a WHO convention, agreement or other international instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response". [8]

The first meeting of the negotiating body is to be scheduled "no later than 1 March 2022" and will aim to "define and agree on its working methods and timelines". [8] The second session will be held "no later than 1 August 2022" and is meant to consider a working draft of the future international agreement. [8] The negotiating body "shall submit its outcome for consideration by the Seventy-seventh World Health Assembly" in 2024. [8]

Treaty format

There is currently no agreement regarding the legal format of the future pandemic treaty. [2] More than 70 states, including the European Union and United Kingdom, are advocating for a strong legally binding international treaty. [2] [3] In contrast, other countries, including the United States, India and Brazil, are reluctant to commit to a legally binding agreement. [2]

The WHO could adopt a pandemic treaty under Article 21 of its constitution, similar to the legal status of the International Health Regulations. [5] Alternatively, the WHO could adopt a pandemic convention or agreement under Article 19, used only once before for the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. [5]

Proceedings

The intergovernmental negotiating body (INB) first met on 24 February 2022. [9] [10]

See also

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INB may refer to:

References

  1. 1 2 "World Health Assembly agrees to launch process to develop historic global accord on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response". World Health Organization . 1 December 2021. Retrieved 2021-12-02.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Cumming-Bruce, Nick (2021-12-01). "W.H.O. members agree to begin talks on a global pandemic treaty". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2021-12-02.
  3. 1 2 Nebehay, Stephanie (2021-11-28). "WHO reaches draft consensus on future pandemic treaty". Reuters. Retrieved 2021-12-02.
  4. ↑ "Advancing Equity In The Pandemic Treaty". Health Affairs . 2023-05-09. doi:10.1377/forefront.20230504.241626.
  5. 1 2 3 Gostin, Lawrence O.; Halabi, Sam F.; Klock, Kevin A. (2021-10-05). "An International Agreement on Pandemic Prevention and Preparedness". JAMA. 326 (13): 1257–1258. doi: 10.1001/jama.2021.16104 . ISSN   0098-7484. PMID   34524388. S2CID   237516558.
  6. ↑ "Global leaders unite in urgent call for international pandemic treaty". World Health Organization . Retrieved 2021-12-02.
  7. ↑ Thirty two ministers of Health (2021-11-23). "The world must act now to be prepared for future health emergencies". BMJ. 375: n2879. doi: 10.1136/bmj.n2879 . ISSN   1756-1833. PMID   34815233. S2CID   244479296.
  8. 1 2 3 4 World Health Assembly, Second Special Session (1 December 2021). The World Together: Establishment of an intergovernmental negotiating body to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness and response (PDF). World Health Organization.
  9. ↑ Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Tedros (24 February 2022). WHO Director-General's opening remarks at first meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body to draft and negotiate a WHO convention, agreement or other international instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response (Speech). World Health Organization . Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  10. ↑ "Council gives green light to start negotiations on international pandemic treaty" (Press release). Council of the European Union. 3 March 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
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