Addressing the resumed 13th Meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response (INB13), Senior Policy Advisor, Jaume Vidal, made the following statement:

Thank you chair,

We are pleased to take the floor for the first time in this resumed session as Article 11, transfer of technologies and sharing of know-how, is at the core of what should be an equitable response to pandemics and health emergencies. 

The fact that after over two years there is still no consensus is not only due to the complexity of the issue but mainly because of the insistence of a few countries to seek unwarranted assurances for private actors. There is a language for this Article, including the footnote, that would gather widespread support both within this room and beyond: the INB bureau needs to acknowledge it.

Lastly, while we commend the efforts undertaken to date and hope for a positive outcome before WHA78, we find ourselves compelled to express our dissatisfaction at the lowered expectations and missed opportunities of this negotiating process. 

-End-

Download the statement to INB13.