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Monday, 15 September 2025
WHO Director-General’s opening remarks at the second meeting of the open-ended Intergovernmental Working Group on the WHO Pandemic Agreement (IGWG) – 15 September 2025 [https://www.who.int/news-room/speeches/item/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-second-meeting-of-the-open-ended-intergovernmental-working-group-on-the-who-pandemic-agreement-(igwg)—15-september-2025]
15 September 2025
Our Co-Chairs, Your Excellency Ambassador Tovar of Brazil and Mr Matthew Harpur of the United Kingdom,
Our Vice-Chairs, Your Excellency Ambassador Dlamini, Dr Hanan, Dr Viroj and our newest member, Ms Madeleine Heyward, congratulations and welcome to the Bureau.
Let me also take this opportunity to express my appreciation to Ms Fleur Davies for her excellent service to the Bureau of the INB and the IGWG. We will continue to rely on your experience and leadership to support this process to a successful and timely conclusion.
Excellencies, dear colleagues and friends,
Good morning, good afternoon and good evening, and thank you all for joining us for this second meeting of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the WHO Pandemic Agreement.
Thank you all for your continuing commitment to this work.
As you know, this work began during the COVID-19 pandemic, which exposed deep flaws in global health security.
We have made real progress.
The amendments to the International Health Regulations that the World Health Assembly adopted last year will enter into force this Friday, the 19th of September. So congratulations for that.
And the adoption of the Pandemic Agreement by the World Health Assembly this year was truly a generational accomplishment.
Your responsibility now is to bring this historic achievement to fruition, by finalizing the Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing system, as mandated by the World Health Assembly.
Many of you have provided valuable text inputs to support the development of an outline for the PABS Annex.
Just last week, the Bureau organized an informal session with experts to prepare for this session.
I hope that you use this week wisely to reach a common understanding on the outline of elements and pave the way for the development of the Annex, to begin negotiations before the end of the year.
Your goal, as you know, is the adoption of the PABS Annex by the World Health Assembly next May, and the subsequent signature and ratification by Member States of the Pandemic Agreement.
It is in every country’s interest that this process is not delayed any further.
Because, as we are all aware, the next pandemic or major global health emergency is not a question of if, but when.
As you know, next week the United Nations General Assembly will meet in New York.
Preparations for next year’s high-level meeting on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response are already under way.
It’s critical that we go to UNGA next year with a PABS Annex that has been adopted by the World Health Assembly, and a Pandemic Agreement that is open for signature and ratification.
And it’s critical that all stakeholders participate, and that the consultation is as broad as possible.
There are some who say it can’t be done – that time is too short, and the differences too great.
I beg to differ, for three reasons:
First, because you have already shown it can be done. You have already shown that you can overcome your differences, you can compromise, and you can reach consensus.
There were those who said that you wouldn’t reach agreement on the Pandemic Agreement in time for this year’s World Health Assembly. You remember that.
You proved them wrong then, and I have no doubt that you will prove them wrong again now.
Second, you are not starting with a blank slate. Article 12 of the Pandemic Agreement itself sets out many of the elements and parameters for the work ahead, and in the PIP Framework, you have experience and precedent to draw on.
And third, you’re in good hands, with a strong Bureau, and very strong leadership. I can think of no one better to be in the chair next to me than Ambassador Tovar.
His experience leading the negotiation of Article 12, his deep understanding of the issues, and his relationships with all of you give me every confidence that under his leadership, and the leadership of his co-chair and the rest of the Bureau, you will bring this process to a successful conclusion.
Let’s bring this historic agreement to completion. Let’s finish the job we started, because without the Annex, the Pandemic Agreement will not be complete.
Thank you all for your work, for your willingness to work through difficult issues to find compromise, and for your commitment to a healthier, safer, and more secure world for all.
I thank you.
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