With only five official negotiation days left before the World Health Assembly (WHA) in May—where the agreement is set to be adopted—delegations are under immense time pressure. While some progress has been made, key contentious issues remain unresolved. These include the distribution of resources and technologies during a pandemic, access to pathogens (Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing, PABS), technology transfer, and the definition and financing of prevention measures. Despite geopolitical tensions, there is cautious optimism that an agreement can be reached. The withdrawal of the United States from the negotiations initially created uncertainty but has also reinforced the determination of the international community to push forward and conclude the agreement successfully. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus urged member states to finalize the agreement as a testament to the effectiveness of multilateralism: “This agreement should not fail on a word; it should not fail on a comma and it should not fail on a percentage. History will not forgive us if we fail to deliver on the mandate the world needs.” Delegates from several countries expressed optimism, emphasizing that an agreement is possible with additional commitment in the coming months. Representatives from India, Eswatini, and Norway also described the negotiations as constructive and highlighted significant progress already achieved. However, the pressure remains high as the number of remaining negotiation days is limited.
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About this series
The ‘Geneva Telegram’ analyses and documents the processes in Geneva's multilateral organisations on current topics. The reports on multilateral issues draw on the expertise of the KAS Geneva team and external authors. The Geneva Telegram is supplemented by the Maps of the Month, which summarise the voting results of UN member states on selected topics.