OXFAM

Meeting:

79th WHA Individual Statements

Agenda Item:

13.3 Open-ended Intergovernmental Working Group on the WHO Pandemic Agreement

Statement:

Oxfam has engaged in the INB and the IGWG Processes calling for a fair and effective agreement. Therefore, the annex needs to operationalise Article 12 commitment for equal footing of pathogen access and benefit sharing through legal obligations for:
1. benefit sharing of technology, products, & money.
2. the implementation of contracts between WHO and all users (companies, labs and data centres) to enable tracing and minimising risks of biosecurity threats.
3. Enable WHO, the UN health agency, to govern the system.
4. The text applies to pandemics and Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

These legal obligations are essential for a fair system to protect public health of all.