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Friday, 1 April 2022

MEDIA ADVISORY

Public hearings regarding a new international instrument on pandemic preparedness and response

12 – 13 April 2022

“What substantive elements do you think should be included in a new international instrument on pandemic preparedness and response?”

WHO is seeking public input on this question to support the work of the intergovernmental negotiating body (INB) to draft and negotiate an international instrument to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.

The first round of hearings will be held through a webcast on 12-13 April 2022. Sessions times are in Central European Summer Time (CEST).

12 April: 8h-11h; and 14h-17h

13 April: 9h-12h; and 15h-18h

A second round of hearings is planned for 16-17 June.

More information will be added to this page when available.

About the public hearings

In a consensus decision aimed at protecting the world from future infectious diseases crises, in December 2021 the World Health Assembly agreed to kickstart a global process by establishing an intergovernmental negotiating body (INB) to draft and negotiate a convention, agreement or other international instrument under the Constitution of the World Health Organization to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, said the decision by the World Health Assembly was historic in nature, vital in its mission, and represented a once-in-a-generation opportunity to strengthen the global health architecture to protect and promote the well-being of all people.

As part of this historic decision, the World Health Assembly requested the Director-General to hold public hearings, in line with standard WHO practice, to support the work of the INB.

Per the INB’s timeline, the first round of those hearings has been set for 12-13 April 2022, with a second round set for 16-17 June. This information on the modalities for the first round of hearings is also expected to apply to the second round as well.

WHO is seeking input from all interested parties in these hearings, and strongly encourages participation in this important process.

The guiding question for the hearings is the following: “What substantive elements do you think should be included in a new international instrument on pandemic preparedness and response?”

The hearings will take place through two components- a spoken component (through videoconference technology) and a written component (through a dedicated web portal).

The timing of the spoken component sessions is as follows (all times CEST):

12 April: 8-11 AM; and 2-5 PM

13 April: 9 AM -12 PM; and 3-6 PM

Subject to WHO’s policies and procedures and the availability of slots, spoken contributions will be welcome from all relevant stakeholders, including both public and private sector entities, that register and accept the applicable terms for spoken contributions. The modalities, as well as the applicable terms, will be published by WHO on this webpage.

Relevant stakeholders in this context includes non-State actors with a demonstrable interest in pandemic preparedness and responses, such as: international organizations; civil society organizations; private sector organizations; philanthropic organizations; scientific, medical and public policy institutions; academic institutions; and other such entities that have relevant knowledge, experience and/or expertise related to pandemic preparedness and response to share. Applicable terms will address, inter alia, requirements of timing, germaneness, civility and transparency.

Written contributions will be welcome from all interested parties, including the general public. The modalities for participation in the written component will be published by WHO on this webpage soon, and the public hearings will also be webcast and archived here.

While all content and contributions will be moderated by the WHO Secretariat in line with the applicable terms and standard WHO practice, no input received should be interpreted as reflecting the view or position of WHO, and participation in the public hearings process is not to be considered an ‘engagement’ with any actor under WHO’s rules, procedures, and practices.

Should your organization wish to participate in the spoken component of the public hearings, a registration link will be available here soon.

Please also note that due to high expected demand, WHO cannot guarantee speaking slots, or any specific speaking times, for the spoken component of the public hearings and may allocate the limited number of slots available with a view to ensuring the widest possible presentation of viewpoints.

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