Pandemics start and end in communities: Why civil society participation in the governance of the Pandemic Accord is critical

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted that as a global community, we need to strengthen systems to prevent, prepare for and respond to public health emergencies. Member States and the World Health Organization have agreed that in order to achieve this we must amend the International Health Regulations and negotiate a new international legal agreement on pandemics, the ‘Pandemic Accord’.

The success of the amended IHR and the pandemic accord will depend not only on the text of these instruments themselves but on the capacity of governments to work with their people to implement its obligations, in times of both calm and crisis. The inclusion of civil society perspectives in the drafting, negotiation, implementation, monitoring, and compliance of these instruments is the only way to ensure that the content of the instruments is centred on the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable communities and groups. And it is the only way to build trust and mobilise support for the implementation of amended frameworks and treaties.

 

Save the Children and STOPAIDS new policy briefing provides WHO and its Member States with a blueprint for engaging civil society in negotiating, governing, monitoring and overseeing instruments related to preventing, preparing for and responding to health emergencies.