1st June 2024 was the final day of WHA77.
The 194 member countries of the World Health Organisation (WHO):
1. adopted a package of amendments to the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR) as presented by the Working Group on Amendments to the IHR (WGIHR); and
2. agreed to extend the mandate for the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) to continue to negotiate the Pandemic Agreement with a view to completing their work within a year, by the 78th World Health Assembly in May 2025, or earlier if possible, at a special session of the World Health Assembly in 2024.
You can find the press release about it here.
The stated rationale: “to ensure comprehensive, robust systems are in place in all countries to protect the health and safety of all people everywhere from the risk of future outbreaks and pandemics”. (Seventy-seventh World Health Assembly – Daily update: 1 June 2024).
International Health Regulations (2005) (WGIHR)
The resolution to adopt the amendments to the IHR (2005) can be read here:
The resolution was read out loud at the WHA plenary session; there were no objections and, consequently, the package of amendments were adopted.
The floor was then opened to member states for comment.
Notably:
- Slovakia, stated that they had “serious” concerns about the amendments and requested that it be noted that Slovakia “disassociates itself” from the IHR (2005) text;
- Iran expressed concerns that the text does not fully address equity and put the WHA on notice of their possible rejection or reservations;
- Russia stated that, after examination within their national framework, they may reject or make reservations to the amendments;
- The United Kingdom delegate acknowledged the right for the UK to “opt-out” mentioning that it would be the “elected” government to make that choice in light of the pending general election. His full statement can be read here. (Please remember that, in the UK, the Minister has powers to implement the IHRs without the consent of Parliament by virtue of s.45B Public Health Act 1984 which provides:
The amended IHR, in its entirety, can be read here. A few amendments of particular note (bold text represents new text) are shown below.
In Article 1 (below), the inclusion of the language “or is at high risk of causing” is of particular concern – how is “high risk” assessed and by whom?
Note that the text in Article 3 (below) many feared was going to be deleted remains as was expected by UK Citizen (and as indicated would likely be the case in the Review Committee Report). It is important to note that there is no definition of “human rights” or “fundamental freedoms”
Also of note is the pre-existing language at Article 31.2:
Remember that by virtue of the already existing domestic legislation, Article 31.2 has been translated into UK law illustrating why, in addition to leaving the WHO, we must work to ensure that domestic legislation that serves to restrict our rights and freedoms be repealed.
We urge you to read the entire amended IHR which can be accessed via the link near the top of this section. It is vital that the amended text is read in the context of the already existing text.
Pandemic Agreement (INB)
The decision to extend the mandate of the INB can be read here.
It should be noted that Costa Rica “disassociates from the consensus to extend the mandate because the prolongation and uncertainty of a potential pandemic treaty will only serve to worsen the existing polarisation which directly reflects the well-being of my population”;
The next meeting of the INB is schedule for July 2024 (precise date to be determined by the Secretariat as soon as possible).
