The Philippines has called on the member states of the World Health Organization (WHO) to demonstrate political will and commitment to achieve equity through the Pandemic Treaty. Philippine Ambassador to the UN Evan Garcia relayed the appeal on behalf of the Group for Equity, composed of 21 countries, to the 5th Meeting and Drafting Group of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB). The gathering aimed to draft and negotiate a WHO convention as well as an agreement or other international instruments on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response (CA+), the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said. Photo courtesy of WHO/via DFA

In his remark, Garcia expressed full support to ensuring that the “INB process results in a WHO CA+ that is just, fair and cognizant of the circumstances faced by developing Member States.” Garcia said this can only be achieved through concrete provisions that effectively operationalize Equity. The Philippines is actively engaged in the INB negotiations on the CA+ or the "Pandemic Treaty," according to DFA. The proposed pandemic treaty is intended to be a historic document that will help ensure that present and future generations are safe from the devastating effects of pandemics. The Group for Equity is presently composed of developing member states including Argentina, Bangladesh, Botswana, Brazil, China, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, South Africa, Tanzania and Thailand. "We are proud to contribute to this historic process by helping organize developing Member States and we hope that the Group for Equity will attract more delegations so that it may ultimately serve as a force for consensus in the negotiations," Garcia said. "It is fortuitous that we are able to make this announcement on the Anniversary of Philippine Independence," he added.