By Robin MILLARD
GENEVA, March 25, 2024 (AFP) – Here are 10 key dates on the pathway towards the signing of an international accord on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response:
May 19, 2020
World Health Organization member states call for an “impartial, independent and comprehensive evaluation” of the handling of Covid-19 which will “make recommendations to improve capacity for global pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response”.
July 9, 2020
WHO launches the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response (IPPPR).
Former New Zealand prime minister Helen Clark and Liberian ex-president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf co-chair the panel.
December 3, 2020
At the UN, European Council president Charles Michel suggests creating a pandemic treaty.
“Our aim must be to guarantee access to vaccines, treatment and tests for future pandemics. This should be laid down in a treaty,” he says.
March 30, 2021
Twenty-six world leaders pen a joint article saying “Nations should work together towards a new international treaty for pandemic preparedness and response”.
The signatories included Germany’s Angela Merkel, Britain’s Boris Johnson, France’s Emmanuel Macron, South Korea’s Moon Jae-in, South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa, Indonesia’s Joko Widodo and Chile’s Sebastian Pinera.
Leaders from the United States, China, Russia and Japan are not among the signatories.
May 12, 2021
The IPPPR final report recommends establishing a pandemic treaty. It says a framework convention should be adopted within six months to address gaps, clarify responsibilities and reinforce legal obligations.
“Mechanisms for financing, research and development, technology transfer, and capacity building could also be enshrined in the convention,” the report reads.
Swift adoption “should capitalise on political will at the peak of global determination to avoid future pandemics”.
December 1, 2021
At the second-ever special session of the World Health Assembly, WHO member states decide to establish an intergovernmental negotiating body (INB) to draft and negotiate a WHO convention, agreement, or other international instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.
February 24, 2022
The INB meets for the first time. Co-chairs Precious Matsoso of South Africa and Roland Driece of the Netherlands are elected, along with four co-chairs from Brazil, Egypt, Thailand and Japan.
The INB opening session resumes on March 14-15, and again on June 6-8, when it considers the INB bureau’s draft consolidated outline of substantive elements for the accord.
January 22, 2024
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says there are important differences and difficult discussions, urging patience, courage and innovative thinking in the face of entrenched positions.
March 18-28, 2024
The ninth and final INB meeting. Tedros acknowledges “critical areas where you are yet to reach consensus”, but says: “Everyone will have to give something, or no one will get anything.”
May 27-June 1, 2024
World Health Assembly at which the pandemic accord is scheduled to be concluded.