Unity For A Safer Future: A Historic Step Towards Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness And Response [Op-Ed by INB Co-Chairs]

Newsletter Edition #127 [Treaty Talks]

Hi,

Starting today, we bring you a series of analyses, updates over the course of this month as Geneva heads into one of the most critical World Health Assemblies in recent years. This is particularly significant, not only because of the acute financial crisis at WHO, and in global health, but a vast transformative shift in the development sector, multilateralism, and in the wider international order.

It is in this backdrop that countries gather next week for the annual World Health Assembly to adopt the Pandemic Agreement. Today we bring you an opinion piece from the co-chairs of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body, Precious Matsoso and Anne-Claire Amprou.

We have closely and critically reported on the treaty-making process for more than three years. That this instrument finally found consensus in an era of disinformation, and at a time when international solidarity is partly in shambles, is not insignificant.

Thank you for reading.

Also, we are launching our new book on the negotiations on the amendments to the International Health Regulations. If you are interested, and are in Geneva, drop by. Register here, for spots are limited.

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Until later!

Priti

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Illustration Credit: Amy Clarke, Chembe Collaborative

I. PANDEMIC AGREEMENT: OP-ED

Unity For A Safer Future: A Historic Step Towards Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness And Response

By Precious Matsoso & Anne-Claire Amprou

Matsoso, (South Africa) and Ambassador Amprou, (France) are Co-Chairs of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body

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After more than three years of intense deliberations, negotiators from Member States of the World Health Organization (WHO) have achieved something truly historic: a draft Pandemic Agreement. This represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reshape how the world prepares for, responds to, and prevents pandemics, so that the world is never again as badly affected as during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This is not just an achievement for public health. It is a powerful sign of what is still possible in our rapidly changing world. In a time of growing geopolitical challenges, this agreement is proof that multilateralism is not only alive—it is essential. Countries with different experiences, histories, and health systems came together, not despite their differences, but because of them. The agreement stands as proof that collaboration remains our strongest tool against shared global threats.