The "Civil Society Alliance for Human Rights in the Pandemic Treaty" on the importance of participation to advance #Human Rights and the Right to Health

The Civil Society Alliance for Human Rights in the Pandemic Treaty, which GI-ESCR is part of, participated in the World Health Organization (WHO) Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (“INB”) for the Pandemic Treaty as it holds its two day public hearing on the substantive elements that should be included in the treaty which has begun negotiating this year.

While this week’s public hearings reflect the INB’s stated objective to consult the public to some extent, it has interpreted its responsibility to do so very narrowly. The INB has allocated minimal time to engaging with the wide range of stakeholders who could inform the process and improve both the legitimacy and quality of the Treaty that emerges.

The Alliance’s brief draws attention to the inadequacy of the process proposed by the INB, and recommends that the INB takes all necessary steps to adjust its “proposed modalities of engagement for relevant stakeholders” to ensure full, meaningful and effective participation in the drafting of the Pandemic Treaty.