Does the WHO Need a New Treaty for Pandemics?
2022-03-08
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1Negotiations on new rules for dealing with pandemics have begun at the World Health Organization (WHO).
2The United Nations health agency has set a target date of May 2024 for its 194-member countries to reach an agreement.
3The goal is to develop rules for dealing with infectious diseases that affect the world.
4A new agreement is among more than 200 recommendations for improving defenses against new infectious materials.
5The recommendations were made in studies of the COVID-19 pandemic that has caused the deaths of more than 6.2 million people in two years.
6An independent advisory group described the WHO as "underpowered" when COVID-19 appeared.
7It said the agency had limited powers to investigate outbreaks and to organize measures to limit the spread of disease.
8On February 17, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen called on the G20 economic powers to create a fund at the World Bank to help prevent global pandemics.
9It is among the efforts that could decide the future of the 74-year-old body.
10The WHO already has rules known as the International Health Regulations which were last updated in 2005.
11The rules set out countries' responsibilities when public health events can cross borders.
12The rules have the force of international law.
13These include advising the WHO immediately of health emergencies and of measures related to trade and travel.
14The updates of the current version were developed after the 2002 to 2003 SARS virus outbreak.
15These regulations are still considered operational for regional epidemics like the Ebola virus, but not enough for a global pandemic like COVID-19.
16Suggested proposals for a new agreement include the sharing of information and genome sequences of viruses.
17Other proposals include rules for providing vaccines fairly.
18A European Union official told Reuters the E.U. is pushing for a ban on wildlife markets.
19It also wants incentives for reporting of new viruses or variants.
20Member states have until August to decide on an early version of the agreement which WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus supports.
21He is likely to be elected unopposed for a second term in May.
22A new set of rules would be only the second major health agreement since the 2003 Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
23It is a legally-binding treaty which aims to reduce smoking through taxation and rules on labeling and advertising.
24The E.U. proposed a new treaty and is its biggest backer, with support from Britain, Indonesia, Kenya and some other countries.
25The United States will take part in the talks, but has opposed a treaty with the force of international law.
26India and Brazil have also voiced concerns.
27With more than 190-member countries involved, securing a new agreement will be difficult.
28The legal nature of any new agreement remains to be defined by talks.
29The WHO uses special words to describe such agreements.
30The WHO generally calls it an "instrument."
31The agency has three kinds of instruments: recommendations, regulations and conventions.
32Of those, regulations are automatically legally binding, or possess the force of international law, for members - unless they object.
33It is not yet clear how the 2005 regulations and a new pandemic treaty might fit together.
34One suggestion is that they should work together.
35In this proposal, existing rules would be used for local outbreaks.
36The new treaty would take effect if the WHO declares a pandemic.
37It remains to be decided whether negotiators will include enforcement measures such as sanctions.
38Separate talks on a U.S. proposal to update the 2005 rules have been taking place.
39U.S. proposals aim to increase openness and permit the WHO to faster reach places where outbreaks are happening.
40Several diplomats said the proposals are likely to be opposed.
41They say China and other nations are expected to reject such measures on national sovereignty grounds.
42China did permit WHO-led expert teams to visit Wuhan where the COVID-19 pandemic started.
43But the WHO says it is still withholding clinical data from early cases that may hold clues about the how the SARS-CoV-2 virus started.
44Another working group of WHO member countries is discussing reforms to the WHO funding structure.
45They want money to be available in the event of a pandemic.
46So far, the United States, which is the WHO's top donor, has opposed plans to increase member countries' yearly payments.
47I'm Mario Ritter, Jr.
1Negotiations on new rules for dealing with pandemics have begun at the World Health Organization (WHO). 2The United Nations health agency has set a target date of May 2024 for its 194-member countries to reach an agreement. The goal is to develop rules for dealing with infectious diseases that affect the world. 3A new agreement is among more than 200 recommendations for improving defenses against new infectious materials. The recommendations were made in studies of the COVID-19 pandemic that has caused the deaths of more than 6.2 million people in two years. 4An independent advisory group described the WHO as "underpowered" when COVID-19 appeared. It said the agency had limited powers to investigate outbreaks and to organize measures to limit the spread of disease. 5On February 17, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen called on the G20 economic powers to create a fund at the World Bank to help prevent global pandemics. It is among the efforts that could decide the future of the 74-year-old body. 6What is the Pandemic Treaty? 7The WHO already has rules known as the International Health Regulations which were last updated in 2005. The rules set out countries' responsibilities when public health events can cross borders. The rules have the force of international law. These include advising the WHO immediately of health emergencies and of measures related to trade and travel. 8The updates of the current version were developed after the 2002 to 2003 SARS virus outbreak. These regulations are still considered operational for regional epidemics like the Ebola virus, but not enough for a global pandemic like COVID-19. 9Suggested proposals for a new agreement include the sharing of information and genome sequences of viruses. Other proposals include rules for providing vaccines fairly. 10A European Union official told Reuters the E.U. is pushing for a ban on wildlife markets. It also wants incentives for reporting of new viruses or variants. 11Member states have until August to decide on an early version of the agreement which WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus supports. He is likely to be elected unopposed for a second term in May. 12A new set of rules would be only the second major health agreement since the 2003 Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. It is a legally-binding treaty which aims to reduce smoking through taxation and rules on labeling and advertising. 13How do countries see an updated treaty? 14The E.U. proposed a new treaty and is its biggest backer, with support from Britain, Indonesia, Kenya and some other countries. 15The United States will take part in the talks, but has opposed a treaty with the force of international law. India and Brazil have also voiced concerns. 16With more than 190-member countries involved, securing a new agreement will be difficult. 17How would a new treaty work? 18The legal nature of any new agreement remains to be defined by talks. The WHO uses special words to describe such agreements. The WHO generally calls it an "instrument." The agency has three kinds of instruments: recommendations, regulations and conventions. 19Of those, regulations are automatically legally binding, or possess the force of international law, for members - unless they object. 20It is not yet clear how the 2005 regulations and a new pandemic treaty might fit together. 21One suggestion is that they should work together. In this proposal, existing rules would be used for local outbreaks. The new treaty would take effect if the WHO declares a pandemic. 22It remains to be decided whether negotiators will include enforcement measures such as sanctions. 23Are other reforms being considered? 24Separate talks on a U.S. proposal to update the 2005 rules have been taking place. 25U.S. proposals aim to increase openness and permit the WHO to faster reach places where outbreaks are happening. Several diplomats said the proposals are likely to be opposed. They say China and other nations are expected to reject such measures on national sovereignty grounds. 26China did permit WHO-led expert teams to visit Wuhan where the COVID-19 pandemic started. But the WHO says it is still withholding clinical data from early cases that may hold clues about the how the SARS-CoV-2 virus started. 27Another working group of WHO member countries is discussing reforms to the WHO funding structure. They want money to be available in the event of a pandemic. So far, the United States, which is the WHO's top donor, has opposed plans to increase member countries' yearly payments. 28I'm Mario Ritter, Jr. 29Emma Farge reported this story for Reuters. Mario Ritter Jr. adapted it for VOA Learning English. 30____________________________________________________________________ 31Words in This Story 32regulations -n. an official rule or law that says how something should be done 33genome sequence -n. the genetic information found in DNA 34incentive -n. something that causes a person to do something or to work harder 35labeling -n. images and words put on product containers that tell about the produce 36sanction - n. an action that is taken to force a country to obey international laws 37sovereignty -n. a country's independent authority and right to govern itself 38We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.