The draft negotiating text on the pandemic instrument released by the Bureau of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) is unbalanced, essentially serving the interest of developed countries without any concrete deliverables on equity.
This draft text is to be considered by the 7th meeting of the INB for conversion into a formal negotiating text. The 7th meeting of INB is to be held at the WHO Headquarters, Geneva from 6-10 November.
The INB drafting group meeting held on 4 – 6 September decided that “The INB Bureau will develop and circulate to the INB for its consideration a proposal for negotiating text of the WHO CA+ (the pandemic instrument)”.
TWN learned from sources that the draft negotiating text is essentially prepared by the Secretariat in discussion with the Bureau. The finalisation of the draft negotiating text involved negotiations among the members of the Bureau. This in a way reaffirms the concern that the draft negotiating text reflects the individual and collective negotiating strength of Bureau members rather than objectivity based on the discussions in the formal and informal meetings of the INB since the body’s 4th (27 February – 3 March 2023).
Important issues of concern over the draft negotiating text are explained below.