The World Health Organization's (WHO) pandemic treaty will be discussed at the upcoming World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva, Switzerland. .The WHA is attended by delegations from all WHO Member States, including Canada and the US, and is the decision-making body of the WHO that determines the policies of the organization. The 75th WHA — themed Health for peace, peace for health — will run May 22-28. .In December, the 194 members of the WHO agreed to begin the process of drafting and negotiating a pandemic treaty under the constitution of the WHO to strengthen its pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response..On March 3, the European Council authorized the opening of negotiations for an intergovernmental body to draft an international pandemic instrument that will be presented at the WHA in 2023, with an aim to be adopted by 2024. .The agreement would be considered "legally binding under international law," according to details on the European Council website. ."An agreement on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response adopted under the World Health Organization (WHO) would enable countries around the globe to strengthen national, regional and global capacities and resilience to future pandemics," said the Council..Such an instrument would:.ensure higher, sustained and long-term political engagement at the level of world leaders of states or governmentsdefine clear processes and tasksenhance long-term public and private-sector support at all levelsfoster integration of health matters across all relevant policy areas.The agreement would support and focus on:.early detection and prevention of pandemicsresilience to future pandemicsresponse to any future pandemics, in particular by ensuring universal and equitable access to medical solutions, such as vaccines, medicines and diagnosticsa stronger international health framework with the WHO as the coordinating authority on global health mattersthe "One Health" approach, connecting the health of humans, animals and our planet.The council said the agreement would ensure "more transparency, more accountability and more shared responsibility" within a global framework. .Along with reviewing and implementing the WHO's Immunization Agenda 2030, discussions around strengthening the WHO's powers to respond to health emergencies including proposed amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR) are just some of the agenda items for next week's assembly. .IHRs, adopted in 2005 by the WHO, are an "instrument of international law that is legally-binding on 196 countries, including the 194 WHO Member States," said the WHO on its website. What is not known, and leading to confusion for many, is whether the "legally-binding" obligations would supersede the sovereign decisions of a nation and its elected officials. .The legal framework "defines countries' rights and obligations in handling public health events and emergencies that have the potential to cross borders" and provides additional provisions to travel including the creation of health documents required for international travel. .The Government of Canada, as a signatory to the IHR, said it is committed to "help strengthen global health security" and confirmed its "ability to meet the public health core capacity requirements needed to cooperate in IHR global efforts." .The Public Health Agency of Canada is cited as the lead organization in charge of implementing the IHR under existing legislation, regulations, policies, and agreements in place for federal, provincial and territorial levels. .The Global Health Council — a US-based non-profit organization that networks advocates and stakeholders from more than 150 countries around global health priorities — indicated its support for strengthening the WHO in a statement. ."WHO’s integral role during COVID-19 proves no alternative organization exists that is as inclusive, transparent, and willing to act equitably," said GHC in a statement.."WHO has immense value and is central to the global health architecture. It must be strengthened to coordinate international responses, bolster Member State capacity to respond to emerging threats, and better protect people from health emergencies.".António Guterres, secretary general of the United Nations and member of the Portuguese Socialist Party called the pandemic the "biggest international crisis in generations" and said it "quickly morphed into an economic and social crisis," in an article published in late February by The Guardian.."COVID-19 has deepened preexisting divides, vulnerabilities and inequalities, and opened up new fractures, including fault lines in human rights," said Guterres who also served as Portugal's prime minister from 1995 to 2002. ."The pandemic has revealed the interconnectedness of our human family and of the full spectrum of human rights — civil, cultural, economic, political and social. When any one of these rights is under attack, others are at risk.".Guterres said he believes an effective response to the pandemic "must be based on solidarity and cooperation." ."Divisive approaches, authoritarianism and nationalism make no sense against a global threat," he said. .The Western Standard contacted the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) to get comment on whether Justin Trudeau will be attending the assembly next week or if he will send a Canadian delegation on his behalf but has not received a reply as of publication.
The World Health Organization's (WHO) pandemic treaty will be discussed at the upcoming World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva, Switzerland. .The WHA is attended by delegations from all WHO Member States, including Canada and the US, and is the decision-making body of the WHO that determines the policies of the organization. The 75th WHA — themed Health for peace, peace for health — will run May 22-28. .In December, the 194 members of the WHO agreed to begin the process of drafting and negotiating a pandemic treaty under the constitution of the WHO to strengthen its pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response..On March 3, the European Council authorized the opening of negotiations for an intergovernmental body to draft an international pandemic instrument that will be presented at the WHA in 2023, with an aim to be adopted by 2024. .The agreement would be considered "legally binding under international law," according to details on the European Council website. ."An agreement on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response adopted under the World Health Organization (WHO) would enable countries around the globe to strengthen national, regional and global capacities and resilience to future pandemics," said the Council..Such an instrument would:.ensure higher, sustained and long-term political engagement at the level of world leaders of states or governmentsdefine clear processes and tasksenhance long-term public and private-sector support at all levelsfoster integration of health matters across all relevant policy areas.The agreement would support and focus on:.early detection and prevention of pandemicsresilience to future pandemicsresponse to any future pandemics, in particular by ensuring universal and equitable access to medical solutions, such as vaccines, medicines and diagnosticsa stronger international health framework with the WHO as the coordinating authority on global health mattersthe "One Health" approach, connecting the health of humans, animals and our planet.The council said the agreement would ensure "more transparency, more accountability and more shared responsibility" within a global framework. .Along with reviewing and implementing the WHO's Immunization Agenda 2030, discussions around strengthening the WHO's powers to respond to health emergencies including proposed amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR) are just some of the agenda items for next week's assembly. .IHRs, adopted in 2005 by the WHO, are an "instrument of international law that is legally-binding on 196 countries, including the 194 WHO Member States," said the WHO on its website. What is not known, and leading to confusion for many, is whether the "legally-binding" obligations would supersede the sovereign decisions of a nation and its elected officials. .The legal framework "defines countries' rights and obligations in handling public health events and emergencies that have the potential to cross borders" and provides additional provisions to travel including the creation of health documents required for international travel. .The Government of Canada, as a signatory to the IHR, said it is committed to "help strengthen global health security" and confirmed its "ability to meet the public health core capacity requirements needed to cooperate in IHR global efforts." .The Public Health Agency of Canada is cited as the lead organization in charge of implementing the IHR under existing legislation, regulations, policies, and agreements in place for federal, provincial and territorial levels. .The Global Health Council — a US-based non-profit organization that networks advocates and stakeholders from more than 150 countries around global health priorities — indicated its support for strengthening the WHO in a statement. ."WHO’s integral role during COVID-19 proves no alternative organization exists that is as inclusive, transparent, and willing to act equitably," said GHC in a statement.."WHO has immense value and is central to the global health architecture. It must be strengthened to coordinate international responses, bolster Member State capacity to respond to emerging threats, and better protect people from health emergencies.".António Guterres, secretary general of the United Nations and member of the Portuguese Socialist Party called the pandemic the "biggest international crisis in generations" and said it "quickly morphed into an economic and social crisis," in an article published in late February by The Guardian.."COVID-19 has deepened preexisting divides, vulnerabilities and inequalities, and opened up new fractures, including fault lines in human rights," said Guterres who also served as Portugal's prime minister from 1995 to 2002. ."The pandemic has revealed the interconnectedness of our human family and of the full spectrum of human rights — civil, cultural, economic, political and social. When any one of these rights is under attack, others are at risk.".Guterres said he believes an effective response to the pandemic "must be based on solidarity and cooperation." ."Divisive approaches, authoritarianism and nationalism make no sense against a global threat," he said. .The Western Standard contacted the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) to get comment on whether Justin Trudeau will be attending the assembly next week or if he will send a Canadian delegation on his behalf but has not received a reply as of publication.
