Our Co-Chairs, Precious and Anne-Claire,
Our Vice-Chairs, Ambassador Tovar, Ambassador Ramadan, Dr Viroj and Ms Davis,
Excellencies, dear colleagues and friends,
Good morning, and welcome back. I will start with a story.
At the Munich Security Conference in February, I got talking to a foreign minister.
We were discussing why so many countries were announcing such large investments in defense.
The foreign minister said, “We have to prepare for the worst.”
I said, “Of course, I understand, but what about preparing for an attack from an invisible enemy?”
He said, “What do you mean? What invisible enemy?”
I said, “A virus. You have seen what the COVID-19 pandemic did. Officially 7 million people were killed, but we estimate the true toll to be 20 million. And on top of the human cost, the pandemic wiped more than US$ 10 trillion from the global economy.
“A pandemic can kill more people, and cause more social and economic disruption than a war.
“Indeed, the First World War killed an estimated 15 to 22 million people, while the 1918 influenza pandemic killed an estimated 50 million people – more than double.
“That’s why we talk about health security – because health is a security issue.”
I’m saying this because there are issues about the Pandemic Agreement – funding and budget issues – that involve money, but compared to what is being spent on defense, the amount involved in the Pandemic Agreement is nothing.
So with the minister, and other defense ministers we were talking to, we agreed that all countries need to find a balance in protecting their people from both bombs and bugs.
Colleagues, it is perhaps fitting that you begin your last round of negotiations today, on World Health Day.
As you know, World Health Day marks WHO’s birthday, the day the WHO Constitution entered into force, on the 7th of April 1948.
The Constitution was, and is, a landmark instrument of international health law.
It outlines 22 core functions for the Organization.
One of them, as you know, is “to propose conventions, agreements and regulations”.
And that’s why you’re here.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, you, the Member States, proposed a convention or agreement on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.
You agreed at a Special Session of the World Health Assembly to negotiate it.
For three-and-a-half years you have worked hard to find common ground.
Step-by-step you have moved closer together.
And you have come to this moment.
You don’t need another speech from me to remind you of what is at stake, or how important it is that you conclude negotiations this week.
If anyone needs reminding of why the world needs a strong Pandemic Agreement, they need only read the news.
Just this year we have had outbreaks of Ebola and Marburg virus disease; avian influenza continues to spread in birds, cattle and other animals, and continues to infect humans.
The COVID-19 pandemic may now seem like a distant memory, overtaken by conflict and geopolitical and economic disruption.
But the next pandemic will not wait until things calm down.
It could happen in 20 years or more, or it could happen tomorrow. But it will happen, and either way, we must be ready.
This is not a theoretical risk; it is an epidemiological certainty.
That’s why the world needs your engagement and leadership to bring the WHO Pandemic Agreement across the finish line.
I have said before and I will say again that this agreement will in no way infringe any Member State’s sovereignty. In fact, the opposite: it will strengthen national sovereignty and international action.
The Bureau has worked hard to develop a text that balances the different needs and priorities of Member States.
I believe we are too close to throw it all away. I believe you are ready to secure consensus.
And I believe you are ready to make history with this generational agreement, so that future generations do not have to suffer as ours did.
The world needs a strong signal that in these divided and divisive times, countries can still come together to collaborate and find common ground.
The Pandemic Agreement can be that signal, and you can be the ones to give it.
I thank you.