WHO Member States Begin to Define Form and Function of a Pandemic Accord

Newsletter Edition #005 [Treaty Talks]

Hi,

There are interests, and there are interests. It now appears as if all interests feature in an emerging outline on the substantive elements for a pandemic accord. The coming month could be defining when countries decide not only on the legal nature of an instrument to govern pandemics, but also agree on a broad direction the new rules could take.

Today we bring you another edition of Treaty Talks, to capture some of the recent discussions at the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body set up to work towards a Pandemic Accord.

Optimists believe this could be a moment of opportunity, but considering that the world is controlled by deep-pocketed status-quoists, it will remain to be seen whether these upcoming discussions will indeed be good faith negotiations or a game-changer for public health as some say. Despite the best intentions and efforts, optimal outcomes cannot be taken for granted. (Look no further than Rue de Lausanne in Geneva, where the WTO stands.)

As a mere chronicler of what we witness in Geneva, we can only bring you what we see and discern.

We hope you find these Treaty Talks series useful. Our goal is to consistently and systematically follow up on the Pandemic Accord discussions at WHO, but also reflect wider conversations that will influence these negotiations. Write to us if you wish to financially support this reporting project, and if you want to contribute to this publication with your insights and perspectives on these negotiations.

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Until next week!

Priti

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STORY OF THE WEEK

WHO Member States Begin to Define Form and Function of a Pandemic Accord

Geneva is no stranger to contentious discussions in international health policy-making. The current times are also witnessing the conduct of crucial negotiations at breakneck speed. However, speed and time cannot be excuses in the way diplomatic processes are being conducted, Geneva-based health diplomats say. Several countries have not been happy about forcing consensus on several matters in recent weeks on the back of time and resource constraints.

The discussions around the World Health Assembly in May this year, give us an indication on what is to come in the negotiations for a pandemic accord.

In July, member states will discuss whether and to what extent the new rules to govern pandemics will be binding. They will also come closer to defining the outline of substantive elements of a pandemic accord. But these key developments take place in a particular context that seems already fraught with tension among member states.

This story takes stock of what recent deliberations at the Working group on strengthening WHO preparedness and response to health emergencies (WGPR) that took place in May, and the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body discussions in June. We highlight a few key issues that member states are concerned about.

Photo by Leonardo Quatrocchi : Pexels