In May 2021, the 74th World Health Assembly decided to convene a Special Session from November 29 to December 1 to consider the benefits of creating a new WHO convention, agreement or other international instrument on pandemic preparedness and response. This Special Session will be critical for the governance of future health emergencies: countries will need to reach a decision on whether to strengthen the International Health Regulations or start the negotiation process for a new and potentially more comprehensive pandemic treaty, or both. Following on the heels of this important discussion, the Global Health Centre and the United Nations Foundation will hold a briefing to review the outcomes of the session and assess the implications for governance of future pandemics.
Speakers
- John E. Lange, (Ret.) Senior Fellow, Global Health Diplomacy, United Nations Foundation
- Gian Luca Burci, Adjunct Professor, International Law, The Graduate Institute
- Ambassador Grata Endah Werdaningtyas, Co-Chair of the Working Group on Pandemic Preparedness and Response; Deputy Permanent Representative and Chargé d'Affaires, Permanent Mission of the Republic of Indonesia to the UN
- Malebogo Kebabonye, Vice-Chair, Working Group on Strengthening WHO Preparedness and Response to Health Emergencies; Public Health Specialist, Primary Health Care Unit, Ministry of Health and Wellness, Botswana
- Colin McIff, Co-Chair, Working Group on Strengthening WHO Preparedness and Response to Health Emergencies (WGPR)
- Kate Dodson, Vice President for Global Health Strategy, United Nations Foundation
- Elhadj As Sy, Co-Chair, WHO Global Preparedness Monitoring Board
- Ilona Kickbusch, Founder and Chair of the International Advisory Board, Global Health Centre
- Preeti Sudan, Member, Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response
- Priti Patnaik, Founding Editor, Geneva Health Files
- Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization
- Suerie Moon, Co-Director, Global Health Centre
