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Monday, 19 May 2025
NEWS RELEASE
Member States approve WHO Pandemic Agreement in World Health Assembly committee, paving way for its formal adoption
Historic agreement to be considered for adoption Tuesday in plenary of the Assembly
19 May 2025 – Geneva: World Health Organization Member States, meeting today in Committee A of the World Health Assembly, approved a resolution [https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA78/A78_10Add1-en.pdf] that calls for the adoption of an historic global compact to make the world safer from future pandemics. The WHO Pandemic Agreement [https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA78/A78_10-en.pdf] will next be considered for final adoption by the Assembly on Tuesday during the plenary session.
Monday’s approval of the Pandemic Agreement resolution follows a more than three-year process, launched by governments during the COVID-19 pandemic, to negotiate the world’s first such accord to address the gaps and inequities in preventing, preparing for and responding to pandemics. This watershed agreement was adopted under Article 19 of the WHO Constitution. It aims to foster stronger collaboration and cooperation among countries, international organizations like WHO, civil society, the private sector and other stakeholders to prevent pandemics occurring in the first place and better respond in the event of a future pandemic crisis.
“Governments from all over the world are making their countries, and our interconnected global community, more equitable, healthier and safer from the threats posed by pathogens and viruses of pandemic potential,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization. “I congratulate WHO‘s Member States for resolving to come together in the aftermath of COVID-19 to better protect the world from future pandemics. Their work to develop this global accord will ensure countries work better, faster and more equitably together to prevent and respond to the next pandemic threat.”
The Pandemic Agreement and the resolution calling for its adoption will be taken up by the full plenary of the World Health Assembly on Tuesday, 20 May. Immediately after, there will be a High-Level segment featuring statements from Heads of States of multiple countries.
“The WHO Pandemic Agreement is a demonstration of the shared desire by all people to be better prepared to prevent and respond to the next pandemic, with a commitment to the principles of respect for human dignity, equity, solidarity and sovereignty, and basing public health decisions to control pandemics on the best available science and evidence,” said the Honorable Dr Esperance Luvindao, Minister of Health and Social Services of Namibia, and Chair of the Committee A meeting that adopted today’s resolution. “The costs that COVID inflicted on lives, livelihoods and economies were great and many, and we – as sovereign states – have resolved to join hands, as one world together, so we can protect our children, elders, frontline health workers and all others from the next pandemic. It is our duty and responsibility to humanity.”
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