International Treaty on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response

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]

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."[4] In light of the pandemic's global devastation, many states called for a stronger international framework to deal with future pandemics.[5][6]

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".[7]

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".[7] 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.[7] The negotiating body "shall submit its outcome for consideration by the Seventy-seventh World Health Assembly" in 2024.[7]

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 Great Britain, 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.[4] Alternatively, the WHO could adopt a pandemic convention or agreement under Article 19, used only once before for the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.[4]

See also

References
  1. "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. 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. Nebehay, Stephanie (2021-11-28). "WHO reaches draft consensus on future pandemic treaty". Reuters. Retrieved 2021-12-02.
  4. 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.
  5. "Global leaders unite in urgent call for international pandemic treaty". World Health Organization. Retrieved 2021-12-02.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
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