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