Statement for the Multi-stakeholder Hearing on Pandemic Preparedness, Prevention and Response

Excellencies,

We urge you to establish a high-level council as an outcome in September and hold member states accountable for their commitments on PPR. ?Efforts led by WHO to reform the IHR and introduce a new Pandemic Accord are critical. ?But they are not enough.

Pandemics are driven by and affect more than health. COVID-19 put all of society into crisis –millions fighting poverty – trade suspended – and economic activity driven to a halt.?Member states utterly failed on their duties to protect the rights of the child with children in every country out of school.

This is not about Geneva or New York – it’s about Geneva and New York. And Cape Town and Rio. And Stockholm and Bangkok. It’s about everyone everywhere. It’s about taking responsibility at the highest level of government. It’s time for accountability.

We sit in this room in New York City – where over 45,000 citizens died of COVID-19.?One in every 4 new Yorkers had someone close die.

Member states – this is in your hands.?We appeal to you to make a commitment that matters and to make sure that next time – and there will be a next time – the world is better prepared and that states are held accountable to their commitments to action.

As has been evidenced by other sectors – including Human Rights, Chemical Weapons, Climate and Atomic Energy, signing a treaty is not enough. Compliance requires independent monitoring reporting to the highest level of government. ?A high-level political council, made up of heads of state or their representatives can drive cross-national, multisectoral accountability and monitor member states' compliance with the Pandemic Accord.?

It’s a both/and.?And there is no body better placed to steward us to a safer world than the United Nations General Assembly.?

Thank you.