PHM is preparing to watch the 76th World Health Assembly (WHA76) of the World Health Organisation. The session will take place from 21st to 30th May in Geneva, Switzerland. The World Health Assembly takes place once and the Executive Board meeting takes place twice a year. The items on the WHA76 agenda will likely include Public Health Emergencies: preparedness and response (including health emergency in Ukraine), Implementation of International Health Regulations (2005), Prevention and Control of Non Communicable Diseases, UNGA high-level meetings preparation for Universal Health Coverage resolution and a declaration for NCD and mental health, Influenza Preparedness, Polio Eradication Transition, and WHO’s sustainable financing.
Can you attend the WHO-Watch for the WHA75 Meeting?
Through Medicus Mundi International, PHM participants, or Watchers, are able to attend the meeting, work on PHM’s commentaries, collaborate with civil society colleagues, advocate our position to the WHO and country delegates, and deliver statements from the floor to the governing body meeting. We are looking for young PHM activists to join as Watchers in Geneva. If you are keen on developing your knowledge on issues discussed at the meeting, and to be involved in strengthening these issues in your country or region after the meeting, please let us know. As the work is intense, being able to work under pressure while still providing support to your fellow Watchers is what we are looking for. We expect the Watchers to prioritize the watching work and be available for the full period of the meetings, including a preparatory in-person workshop the week before the WHA76. This means arriving on Sunday 14th May 2023 and departing on 30th May 2023.
If you are interested in the politics of global health governance and understanding the role that people’s movements can play in UN processes, the preparatory workshop will be of interest for you. It will also help the you acquaint yourself with the agenda topics and work on them. The workshop will be held from 15th to 20th May in Geneva.
To participate in the WHA76 watch please fill out the application form below. The deadline to fill the form is 17th March, 2023. Note a small number of watchers (1 or 2) will be chosen for representing each region due to the team being small (12-14). Meetings and sessions will be held in English so participants must be fluent English speakers.
In case you have any query, please contact: Lauren Paremoer ([email protected] ) OR Candelaria Aráoz Falcón ([email protected]).
