World leaders, including Emmanuel Macron, propose a treaty on pandemics

If for the moment the objective is to put an end to the coronavirus crisis, the expressed wish of part of the leaders of the world is not to relive a similar scenario in the future. For this, the leaders of twenty countries, the President of the European Council and the head of the WHO called on Tuesday to draw up an “international treaty on pandemics” to face future health crises.

Their proposal is presented in a forum signed by the leaders of countries spread over five continents, including French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, or even South Korean presidents Moon Jae-in. , South African Cyril Ramaphosa, Indonesian Joko Widodo and Chilean Sebastián Pinera.

The pandemic “takes advantage of our weaknesses and our divisions”

While the Covid-19 “takes advantage of our weaknesses and our divisions”, “such a renewed collective commitment would be an important step to consolidate the preparation for pandemics”, according to this article published Monday evening in The world, and which was to be in many foreign dailies on Tuesday. “There will be other pandemics […]. No government or multilateral organization can face this threat on its own, ”insists the forum.

Also signatories, the President of the European Council Charles Michel and the head of the WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, will present this draft treaty on Tuesday. It could be based on the “International Health Regulations”, a legal instrument adopted in 2005. A treaty “should lead to greater mutual accountability and shared responsibility” and “promote transparency and cooperation within the international system. Added the text, calling for work with civil society and the private sector.

Strengthening “resilience” in the face of pandemics supposes “strongly consolidating international cooperation to improve, for example, warning systems, the sharing of information, research, as well as the production and distribution” of vaccines, drugs , diagnostic products and protective equipment, continues the forum. In this regard, “we are committed to ensuring universal and equitable access to vaccines, drugs and diagnostic products that are safe, effective and affordable for this pandemic and those that will follow. Immunization is a global public good, ”say the 25 signatory leaders.

Charles Michel proposed such an international treaty in December during the UN General Assembly. EU member states in December, then G7 countries in February, also endorsed the idea of ​​a possible treaty to strengthen international health cooperation. The leaders of key members of the G20 (the United States, Russia, China, Japan, India and Brazil) are not, however, among the signatories of the platform.