General Assembly adopts pandemic declaration, but not by consensus
The UN General Assembly adopted a non-binding political declaration on pandemic preparedness despite opposition from the U.S., Argentina, and Israel. The declaration aims to foster international cooperation, though negotiations on specific pathogen data-sharing systems remain stalled.
Why it matters
The lack of consensus highlights ongoing geopolitical tensions regarding global health governance and the equitable distribution of medical resources.
The General Assembly on Monday adopted a political declaration on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response, by 153 in favour to three against (Argentina, Israel and United States) with two abstentions (New Zealand and Paraguay).
The text was due to be approved by consensus at a high-level meeting on 25 September.
Objections from the United States and a few other States blocked that, pushing the issue back to the assembly.
Chile’s representative summed up one prevailing view, saying that “no country, no matter how big it might be or how prepared it might be, can alone address a threat that knows no borders.”
The declaration is political and non-binding. It calls for stronger national, regional and international cooperation, guided by science, equity and respect for human rights, and it welcomes last year’s landmark adoption of the World Health Organization ( WHO ) Pandemic Agreement.
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