A bitter debate over proposed WHO recognition of a non-profit center for reproductive health rights, erupted in full force at the WHO Executive Board on Monday – after a tumultuous week of the World Health Assembly where member states largely skirted the increasingly contentious issue of sexual and reproductive health rights.
The proposal by the WHO Secretariat the US-based Center for Reproductive Rights be designated as a non-state actor in “official relations” with WHO – drew fierce opposition from member state blocs of the Eastern Mediterranean and African region – with Qatar threatening to escalate the issue and potentially the criteria for admitting non-state actors into official relations to the World Health Assembly if the WHO recognition of official relations with the organization is approved by the EB.