September 26, 2024
The O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law is proud to announce that it will Host the Secretariat for the Panel for a Global Public Health Convention (GPHC), a coalition of global leaders dedicated to strengthening the world’s ability to prevent and respond to infectious disease outbreaks. The Panel’s expertise and advocacy for a WHO Pandemic Agreement that includes sharing of scientific information, global solidarity, equity, and good governance has been vital.
Founded in 2020 to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Panel aims to bridge critical gaps in global health infrastructure and policy frameworks through the promotion of a new convention on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.
Lawrence O. Gostin, faculty director of the O’Neill Institute, also serves as a panel member alongside nine other global health leaders, including former presidents and ministers of health.
“As an independent coalition of leading voices in public health, medicine, policy, economics, and diplomacy, the Panel plays a critical role in striving for a transformational Pandemic Agreement that guarantees equity and justice for all,” – Lawrence O. Gostin
“The O’Neill Institute is honored to Host the Secretariat for the Panel for a Global Public Health Convention,” said Gostin. “As an independent coalition of leading voices in public health, medicine, policy, economics, and diplomacy, the Panel plays a critical role in striving for a transformational Pandemic Agreement that guarantees equity and justice for all,” noted Gostin.
The Panel offers recommendations for what compliance-enhancing mechanisms and key elements should be incorporated in a proposed legal instrument to foster greater global cooperation, transparency, and accountability.
“We must press all our Governments across the world to get together to deliver this Pandemic Agreement.” – Dame Barbara Stocking
“In the next few months, we have the opportunity to reach a Global Agreement on Pandemics,” said Dame Barbara Stocking, Chair of the Panel. “This should help us to be ready to stop outbreaks of disease developing into pandemics. We must press all our Governments across the world to get together to deliver this Pandemic Agreement.”
“As the deadline for adopting a Pandemic Agreement draws nearer, the Panel’s work is more important than ever.” – Lawrence O. Gostin
“The Panel has continued to advocate the inclusion of core elements of the Pandemic Agreement, including equity, solidarity, financing, transparency and accountability with the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body, Member States and WHO,” added Gostin. “As the deadline for adopting a Pandemic Agreement draws nearer, the Panel’s work is more important than ever.”
In this role, the O’Neill Institute will support the Panel as it strives to inform policymakers and country leaders on the next steps to reform and bolster future global pandemic preparedness and response.
In the coming months, the Panel will engage in multiple high-level conversations around the negotiation and finalization of the legal convention by the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body in Geneva.
For more information about the panel visit Panel’s website here. If you are interested in scheduling an interview with Professor Gostin or another panel member please contact Heena Patel at hp498@georgetown.edu.