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World Health Assembly agreement reached on wide-ranging, decisive package of amendments to improve the International Health Regulations
1 June 2024

In an historic development, the World Health Assembly, the annual meeting of its 194 member countries, today agreed a package of critical amendments to the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR), and made concrete commitments to completing negotiations on a global pandemic agreement within a year, at the latest.
A man, accompanied by a woman and another man sitting, speaking into a microphone at a meeting.
WHO Member States agree way forward to conclude Pandemic Agreement
28 May 2024

The World Health Assembly today recognized the progress made over the past two years by Member States to develop a pandemic agreement and strengthen the International Health Regulations (IHR, 2005). Governments meeting in Geneva are in talks to advance these two efforts, which aim to boost the world’s ability to better able to prevent and respond to the threat of future pandemics.
Two men in suits and one woman in African attire at a meeting.
WHO Member States agree to share outcomes of historic IHR, pandemic agreement processes to World Health Assembly
24 May 2024

WHO Member States have ended intensive negotiations aimed at strengthening global capacities to respond to future pandemics and outbreaks in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, and agreed to submit outcomes of their work for consideration by the upcoming World Health Assembly, starting Monday.
Speakers shown at the resumed ninth meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) for a WHO instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response took place at WHO Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.
Governments agree to continue their steady progress on proposed pandemic agreement ahead of the World Health Assembly
10 May 2024

Governments of the world today agreed to continue working on a proposed pandemic agreement, and to further refine the draft, ahead of the Seventy-seventh World Health Assembly that starts 27 May 2024.
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WHO Member States agree to resume negotiations aimed at finalizing the world’s first pandemic agreement
28 March 2024

WHO Member States agreed to resume negotiations aimed at finalizing a pandemic agreement during 29 April to 10 May. The decision came at today’s end of two weeks of intensive country-led discussions on critical subjects aimed at making all countries of the world better prepared for, and able to effectively and equitably respond to, future pandemics.
People at the opening of a meeting, seated in front of a WHO backdrop and flag.
Governments continue discussions on pandemic agreement negotiating text
7 December 2023

Sustainable production of pandemic-related tools, boosting country health system capacities, financing solutions and misinformation among subjects discussed by WHO Member States.
Overview of participants at a meeting
INB Bureau to develop a proposal for negotiating text of the pandemic accord
13 September 2023

The Drafting Group of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) to draft and negotiate a WHO convention, agreement or other international instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response (WHO CA+) held discussions and informal meetings from 4–6 September 2023 in order to advance work on a pandemic accord.
Dr Precious Matsoso of South Africa pictured at a meeting
Member States continue work on potential pandemic accord
25 July 2023

Member States of WHO continued their discussions towards a global accord on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response, with a view to presenting the outcome of their work to the World Health Assembly in May 2024.
People sitting in a circle talking on one side of a large meeting room
Countries set out way forward for continued negotiations on global agreement on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response
17 June 2023

Countries of WHO have moved forward negotiations on a global accord on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response, with a view to presenting a draft accord to the World Health Assembly in May 2024.
Head shot of a man speaking during a meeting
Countries set out way forward for negotiations on global agreement to protect world from future pandemic emergencies
7 April 2023

Countries of WHO have mapped out how negotiations on a global accord on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response will move forward with a view to presenting a draft accord for approval by the World Health Assembly in May 2024.
Men and woman shake hands infront of a WHO backdrop.
Countries begin negotiations on global agreement to protect world from future pandemic emergencies
3 March 2023

Countries of WHO have begun negotiations on a global accord on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response, using the “zero draft” as a basis for negotiating an agreement to protect nations and communities from future pandemic emergencies.
Delegates from WHO Member States in a meeting room
WHO Member States agree to develop zero draft of legally binding pandemic accord in early 2023
7 December 2022

Member States WHO today agreed to develop the first draft of a legally binding agreement designed to protect the world from future pandemics. This “zero draft” of the pandemic accord, rooted in the WHO Constitution, will be discussed by Member States in February 2023.
Pandemic instrument should be legally binding, INB meeting concludes
21 July 2022

Second meeting of the INB to draft and negotiate a WHO convention, agreement or other international instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response concludes, with agreement that the new instrument should be legally binding.
World Health Assembly agrees to launch process to develop historic global accord on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response
1 December 2021

In a consensus decision aimed at protecting the world from future infectious diseases crises, the World Health Assembly today agreed to kickstart a global process 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.