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Journal No. 4   27 May 2021

This Journal is intended to give delegates, representatives and other participants advance indications of the Health Assembly’s programme of work. Additional information can be found in the Guide for delegates to the World Health Assembly (document A74/DIV./2)

The Journal does not constitute an official record of the Health Assembly’s proceedings. The Journal is published in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish on every working day during the Health Assembly.

N° 4 Programme of meetings for Thursday, 27 May 2021

Time

Committee A
Virtual Room 2

Committee B
Virtual Room 1

10:00

Sixth meeting

Third meeting

14:00

Seventh meeting

Fourth meeting

Table of contents

1. Date and working hours

2. Programme of work of the Health Assembly

3. Report of meetings

4. Strategic briefings

5. Arrangements for conduct of discussion in meetings

6. Announcements

Interpretation

Interpretation will be provided in the official languages (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish) to help delegates to follow the discussions. Delegates are requested to speak clearly and at a normal speaking pace to enable clear and accurate interpretation through the virtual platform. Copies of all statements should be submitted at least one hour in advance by email to interpret@who.int.  Clearly indicate the name of the country delegation/group in the subject line of the email.     

Note: a statement of three minutes at normal speaking pace is equivalent to approximately 330 words.

1.  Date and working hours

The working hours of the Seventy-fourth Health Assembly are from 10:00 to 13:00 and 14:00 to 17:00 (CEST).

The Health Assembly will close no later than Tuesday, 1 June 2021, as decided by the Executive Board at its 148th session.

2. Programme of work of the Health Assembly

Thursday, 27 May 2021

Sixth and seventh meetings of Committee A

10:00 and 14:00

Item 11 (Pillar 4) (Discussion of agenda items 11 and 12 will be grouped)

Proposed programme budget 2022–2023

–  Documents A74/5 Rev.1, A74/5 Add.1, A74/9 and A74/46

o   Sustainable financing

–  Documents A74/6 and A74/46

Item 12 (Pillar 4)

WHO results framework: an update

–  Documents A74/7, A74/8 and A74/47

Item 13 continued (Pillar 1)
Discussion of agenda item 13 will be grouped as follows: (13.2, 13.3 & 13.9), (13.1, 13.5 & 13.8), (13.4, 13.6 & 13.7)

Review of and update on matters considered by the Executive Board

·       Item 13.2 continued

Political declaration of the third high-level meeting of the General Assembly on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases

–  Documents A74/10 Rev.1, A74/10 Rev.1 Add.1, A74/10 Add.2, A74/10 Add.3, A74/A/CONF./4, A74/A/CONF./4 Add.1, A74/A/CONF./5, A74/A/CONF./5 Add.1 and EB148/2021/REC/1, decisions EB148(6) and EB148(7)

Oral health

–  Documents A74/10 Rev.1 and EB148/2021/REC/1, resolution EB148.R1

·       Item 13.3 continued

Expanding access to effective treatments for cancer and rare and orphan diseases, including medicines, vaccines, medical devices, diagnostics, assistive products, cell- and gene-based therapies and other health technologies; and improving the transparency of markets for medicines, vaccines, and other health products

–  Document A74/9

·       Item 13.9 continued

Integrated people-centred eye care, including preventable vision impairment and blindness

–  Documents A74/9, A74/9 Add.3 and A74/9 Add.5

·       Item 13.1

Global action on patient safety

–  Documents A74/10 Rev.1, A74/10 Add.4 and EB148/2021/REC/1, decision EB148(5)

·       Item 13.5

Antimicrobial resistance

–  Document A74/10 Rev.1

·       Item 13.8

Immunization Agenda 2030

–  Documents A74/9 and A74/9 Add.4

Third and fourth meetings of Committee B

10:00 and 14:00

Draft first report of Committee B

Document (Draft) A74/58 containing one decision entitled:

-       Health conditions in the occupied Palestinian territory, including east Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan

Item 26 (Pillar 4) (Discussion of agenda item 26 will be grouped as follows: 26.1, 26.2, 26.3, 26.4, 26.6, 26.7, 26.8)

Review of and update on matters considered by the Executive Board
Managerial, administrative and governance matters

·       Item 26.1

Update on the Infrastructure Fund

o   Update on information management and technology

–  Documents A74/9, A74/23 and A74/52

o   Geneva buildings renovation strategy

–  Document A74/9

·       Item 26.2

WHO transformation

–  Document A74/9

·       Item 26.3

WHO reform

o   WHO reform: governance

–  Documents A74/9, A74/INF./3 and EB148/2021/REC/1, decision EB148(9)

o   WHO reform: World health days

–  Documents A74/9, A74/9 Add.2 and EB148/2021/REC/1, decision EB148(10)

o   Review of entitlements of members of the Executive Board

–  Documents A74/9 and EB147/2020/REC/1, decision EB147(11)

o   WHO reform: involvement of non-State actors in WHO’s governing bodies

–  Document A74/9

·       Item 26.4 (discussion of agenda item 26.4 will include Progress report F under item 34.1)

Global strategies and plans of action that are scheduled to expire within one year

o   WHO global disability action plan 2014–2021: better health for all people with disability

–  Documents A74/9 and EB148/2021/REC/1, resolution EB148.R6

o   The global health sector strategies on, respectively, HIV, viral hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections, for the period 2016–2021

–  Documents A74/9 and EB148/2021/REC/1, decision EB148(13)

o   Global technical strategy and targets for malaria 2016–2030

–  Documents A74/9, A74/55, A74/B/CONF./2 and A74/B/CONF./2 Add.1

Staffing matters

·       Item 26.6

Human resources: annual report

–  Documents A74/25 and A74/53

·       Item 26.7

Report of the International Civil Service Commission

–  Document A74/9

·       Item 26.8

Amendments to the Staff Regulations and Staff Rules

–  Documents A74/9 and EB148/2021/REC/1, resolution EB148.R4

Item 26.5

Process for the election of the Director-General of the World Health Organization

–  Documents A74/24, A74/24 Add.1, A74/24 Add.2, A74/24 Add.3, A74/54 and EB148/2021/REC/1, decision EB148(11)

Item 27 and 28 (Pillar 4) (Discussion of agenda items 27 and 28 will be grouped)

        Appointment of representatives to the WHO Staff Pension Committee

–  Document A74/26

        Report of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board

–  Document A74/27

Item 31 (Pillar 4)

Management and legal matters

·       Item 31.2

Agreements with intergovernmental organizations

–  Document A74/44

If time permits:

Item 32 (Pillar 4)

Collaboration within the United Nations system and with other intergovernmental organizations

–  Documents A74/38 and A74/B/CONF./1

Item 33 (Pillar 4) (Discussion of all bullet points will be grouped)

Updates and future reporting

o   Emergency care system for universal health coverage: ensuring timely care for the acutely ill and injured

–  Document A74/39

o   Rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease

–  Document A74/40

o   WHO global strategy on health, environment and climate change: the transformation needed to improve lives and well-being sustainably through healthy environments

–  Document A74/41

o   The role of the health sector in the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management towards the 2020 goal and beyond

–  Documents A74/42 and A74/42 Add.1

Friday, 28 May 2021

Sixth Plenary meeting

10:00

Item 6

Executive Board: election

–  Document A74/57

Item 7

Awards

–  Document A74/INF./1

Item 8

Reports of the main committees

Eighth and ninth meetings of Committee A

Immediately after conclusion of Plenary and 14:00

Item 13 continued (Pillar 1)
Discussion of agenda item 13 will be grouped as follows: (13.2, 13.3 & 13.9), (13.1, 13.5 & 13.8), (13.4, 13.6 & 13.7)

Review of and update on matters considered by the Executive Board

·       Item 13.4

Global strategy and plan of action on public health, innovation and intellectual property

–  Documents A74/9, A74/A/CONF./1 and A74/A/CONF./1 Add.1

·       Item 13.6

Substandard and falsified medical products

–  Document A74/9

·       Item 13.7

Standardization of medical devices nomenclature

–  Document A74/9

Item 14 (Pillar 1) (Discussion of agenda items 14, 15, and 16 will be grouped)

Health in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

–  Document A74/11

Item 15 (Pillar 1)

Health workforce

o   Working for health: five-year action plan for health employment and inclusive economic growth (2017–2021)

–  Documents A74/12, A74/A/CONF./6 and A74/A/CONF./6 Add.1

o   Global Strategic Directions for Nursing and Midwifery

–  Documents A74/13, A74/A/CONF./3 and A74/A/CONF./3 Add.1

 Item 16 (Pillar 1)

Committing to implementation of the Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health (2016−2030)

–  Document A74/14

Fifth and sixth meetings of Committee B

Immediately after conclusion of Plenary and 14:00

Item 30 (Pillar 4) (Discussion of agenda items 30.1, 30.2 and 30.3 will be grouped)

Audit and oversight matters

·       Item 30.1

Report of the External Auditor

–  Documents A74/34 and A74/51

·       Item 30.2

Report of the Internal Auditor

–  Documents A74/35 and A74/51

·       Item 30.3

External and internal audit recommendations: progress on implementation

–  Documents A74/37 and A74/51

Item 30.2 continued

Report of the Internal Auditor

Preventing sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment

–  Documents A74/36 and A74/51

Item 29 continued (Pillar 4) (Discussion of agenda items 29.1, 29.2, 29.4 and 29.6 will be grouped)

Financial matters

·       Item 29.1

WHO programme and financial reports for 2020–2021, including audited financial statements for 2020

  Documents A74/28, A74/29, A74/47 and A74/INF./4

·       Item 29.2 continued

Status of collection of assessed contributions, including Member States in arrears in the payment of their contributions to an extent that would justify invoking Article 7 of the Constitution

 Documents A74/31 and A74/48

·       Item 29.4

Scale of assessments 2022–2023

 Documents A74/32 and A74/49

·       Item 29.6

Assessment of new Members and Associate Members

 Documents A74/33 and A74/50

Saturday, 29 May 2021

Tenth and eleventh meetings of Committee A

10:00 and 14:00

Item 19 (Pillar 2) (Discussion of agenda items 19, 20 and 21 will be grouped)

The public health implications of implementation of the Nagoya Protocol

–  Document A74/9

Item 20 (Pillar 2)

Enhancement of laboratory biosafety

–  Document A74/18

Item 21 (Pillar 2)

Poliomyelitis

o   Polio eradication

–  Document A74/19

o   Polio transition planning and polio post-certification

–  Document A74/20

Items 17 and 18 continued (Pillar 2)
Discussion of agenda items 17 and 18 will be grouped as follows:

Item 17 (Pillar 2)        Public health emergencies: preparedness and response
together with
Item 18 (Pillar 2)        Mental health preparedness for and response to the COVID-19 pandemic

·         WHO’s work in health emergencies and strengthening preparedness for health emergencies and Mental health preparedness for and response to the COVID-19 pandemic continued
–  Documents A74/9, A74/10 Rev.1, A74/A/CONF./2, A74/A/CONF./7 and EB148/2021/REC/1, decision EB148(3)

Seventh and eighth meetings of Committee B

10:00 and 14:00

Item 34 (Pillar 4)

Matters for information

Regarding progress reports – delegations will be invited to post written statements on the website.

·       Item 34.1

Progress reports

–  Documents A74/43 and A74/43 Rev.1

Pillar 1: One billion more people benefitting from universal health coverage

A.     Sustainable health financing structures and universal coverage (resolution WHA64.9 (2011))

B.     Prevention of deafness and hearing loss (resolution WHA70.13 (2017))

C.    Promoting the health of refugees and migrants (decision WHA72(14) (2019))

D.    Eradication of dracunculiasis (resolution WHA64.16 (2011))

E.     Progress in the rational use of medicines (resolution WHA60.16 (2007))

F.     Global technical strategy and targets for malaria 2016–2030 (resolution WHA68.2 (2015))
[to be discussed with item 26.4]

 

Pillar 2: One billion more people better protected from health emergencies

G.    Smallpox eradication: destruction of variola virus stocks (resolution WHA60.1 (2007))

 

Pillar 3: One billion more people enjoying better health and well-being

H.    Water, sanitation and hygiene in health care facilities (resolution WHA72.7 (2019))

I.       Plan of action on climate change and health in small island developing States (decision WHA72(10) (2019))

Monday, 31 May 2021

Twelfth and thirteenth meetings of Committee A

10:00 and 14:00

Item 22 (Pillar 3) (Discussion of agenda items 22 and 23 will be grouped)

Review of and update on matters considered by the Executive Board

·       Item 22.1

Social determinants of health

–  Documents A74/9 and EB148/2021/REC/1, resolution EB148.R2

Item 23 (Pillar 3)

WHO global plan of action to strengthen the role of the health system within a national multisectoral response to address interpersonal violence, in particular against women and girls, and against children

–  Documents A74/21, A74/A/CONF./8 and A74/A/CONF./8 Add.1

Ninth and tenth meetings of Committee B

10:00 and 14:00

Finalization of resolutions/decisions and reports

Tuesday, 1 June 2021

Fourteenth meeting of Committee A

10:00

Finalization of resolutions/decisions and reports

Eleventh meeting of Committee B

10:00

Finalization of resolutions/decisions and reports

Seventh Plenary meeting

Immediately after conclusion of Committees A and B

Item 8

Reports of the main committees

Item 9

Closure of the Health Assembly

3.  Report of meetings

Fifth Plenary meeting

In the Chair:
Mrs Dechen Wangmo (Bhutan)
President of the Seventy-fourth World Health Assembly

Report of the Committee on Credentials

The President presented the report of the Committee on Credentials (document A74/56) which was approved by the Health Assembly.

Item 5

Admission of new Associate Members [if any]

In accordance with Article 8 of the WHO Constitution, the Assembly was invited to consider the application from the Government of Denmark on behalf of the Faroe Islands for its admission to associate membership of WHO. The delegations of Denmark and Argentina spoke in favour of the application.

The Health Assembly adopted the draft resolution by acclamation.

Item 3 continued

–  General discussion

The President resumed consideration of item 3 and invited the first two speakers to address the Assembly: the delegates of Belize and Republic of Moldova. These speakers were followed by the delegates of Palau, Cambodia, Nicaragua, Timor-Leste, United Republic of Tanzania, Iceland, Mongolia, Viet Nam, Greece, Albania, San Marino, Georgia, Mali, Serbia (who spoke on behalf of South-eastern European Health Network (SEEHN)), Sudan, Ethiopia, Syrian Arab Republic, Togo, Benin, Kyrgyzstan, Central African Republic, Gambia, Lesotho, Hungary, Sao Tome and Principe, Namibia, Burundi, representatives of the Holy See, Palestine, delegates of Sierra Leone, representatives of International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Order of Malta, GAVI Alliance, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Stop TB Partnership, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), Commission of the African Union (AUC), Commonwealth Secretariat, South Centre, Organization of Islamic Organization (OIC), and the delegate of Tuvalu.

The agenda item was closed and the meeting adjourned.

Fourth meeting of Committee A

In the Chair:
Dr Adriana Amarilla (Paraguay)

Items 17 and 18 continued (Pillar 2)
Discussion of agenda items 17 and 18 will be grouped as follows:

Item 17 (Pillar 2)        Public health emergencies: preparedness and response
together with
Item 18 (Pillar 2)        Mental health preparedness for and response to the COVID-19 pandemic

·         Update by the Independent Panel on Pandemic Preparedness and Response co-Chairs as well as by the Chairs of the Independent Oversight Advisory Committee for the WHO Health Emergencies Programme and the Review Committee on the functioning of the International Health Regulations (2005) during the COVID-19 response (documents A74/INF./2, A74/16, A74/9 Add.1), as well as Implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005) continued (documents A74/17 and A74/17 Add.1)

·         Technical update and update on the COVID-19 response continued (documents A74/9 and A74/15)

·         WHO’s work in health emergencies and strengthening preparedness for health emergencies and Mental health preparedness for and response to the COVID-19 pandemic (documents A74/9, A74/10 Rev.1, A74/A/CONF./2, A74/A/CONF./7 and EB148/2021/REC/1, decision EB148(3))

The Chair opened the meeting and invited comments from those Member States who had previously requested to take the floor under the second grouping of items, Update from the Independent Panel on Pandemic Preparedness and Response co-Chairs as well as the Chairs of the Independent Oversight Advisory Committee for the WHO health Emergencies Programme and the Review Committee on the functioning of the International Health Regulations (2005) during the COVID-19 response, as well as Implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005).

Dr Takeshi Kasai, WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific, Dr Carissa Etienne, WHO Regional Director for the Americas, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, and Dr Poonam Singh, Regional Director for South-East Asia were invited to address the Committee. The Secretariat responded to issues raised.

At the invitation of the Chair, the co-Chair of the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response, Her Excellency Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, and the Chair of the Independent Oversight and Advisory Committee for the WHO Health Emergencies Programme, Dr Felicity Harvey and The Chair of the Review Committee on the functioning of the International Health Regulations (2005) during the COVID-19 response, Professor Lothar Wieler all provided remarks and expressed their gratitude.

The WHO Director-General Dr Tedros addressed the Committee and thanked Member States and Chairs for their guidance, dedication and commitment and the item grouping was closed.

The Chair reopened the first grouping discussion on the Technical update and update on the COVID-19 response to hear remaining statements from Member States. The item grouping was suspended until the next session of the Committee and the meeting was adjourned.

First meeting of Committee B

In the Chair:
Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete (Fiji)

Item 24

Opening of the Committee

Including election of Vice-Chairs and Rapporteur

Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete (Fiji) expressed his gratitude for his election as chairperson of the Committee and welcomed delegates and observers. In accordance with Rule 35 of the Rules of Procedure of the World Health Assembly, the Committee elected Dr Søren Brostrøm (Denmark) and Ms Kazi Zebunnessa Begum (Bangladesh) as Vice-Chairs and Lt. Col. The Hon. Jeffrey Bostic (Barbados) as Rapporteur.  In addition, and in accordance with Rule 36 of the Rules of Procedure of the World Health Assembly, the Committee elected H.E. Mr Md. Mustafizur Rahman (Bangladesh) as Vice-Chair ad interim.

The meeting was adjourned.

Fifth meeting of Committee A

In the Chair:
Dr Adriana Amarilla (Paraguay)

Items 17 and 18 continued (Pillar 2)
Discussion of agenda items 17 and 18 will be grouped as follows:

Item 17 (Pillar 2)        Public health emergencies: preparedness and response
together with
Item 18 (Pillar 2)        Mental health preparedness for and response to the COVID-19 pandemic

·         Technical update and update on the COVID-19 response continued (documents A74/9 and A74/15)

·         WHO’s work in health emergencies and strengthening preparedness for health emergencies and Mental health preparedness for and response to the COVID-19 pandemic (documents A74/9, A74/10 Rev.1, A74/A/CONF./2, A74/A/CONF./7, A74/A/CONF./7 Add.1 and EB148/2021/REC/1, decision EB148(3))

The Chair opened the meeting and resumed the discussion of the first grouping of items: Technical update and update on the COVID-19 response under items 17 and 18. At the invitation of the Chair, the Secretariat responded to issues raised, thus concluding discussion of this grouping.

The Chair opened the third grouping under items 17 and 18 WHO’s work in health emergencies and strengthening preparedness for health emergencies and Mental health preparedness for and response to the COVID-19 pandemic and reminded the Committee of the relevant documents A74/9, A74/10 Rev.1. Comments were then invited from the floor.

Discussion of items 17 and 18 was suspended and the meeting adjourned.

Second meeting of Committee B

In the Chair:
Dr Søren Brostrøm (Denmark)

Item 25

Health conditions in the occupied Palestinian territory, including east Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan

The Chair opened the item for discussion and invited the Committee to consider the draft decision contained in document A74/B/CONF./3 Health conditions in the occupied Palestinian territory, including east Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan.

In accordance with Rule 74 of the Rules of Procedure and paragraph 8 of the Special Procedure to regulate the conduct of virtual meetings of the World Health Organization, a roll-call vote by raising of hands in the virtual platform was taken.  The Chair drew a letter in order to identify the first country to vote which was “S”. The vote resulted in 83 votes in favour to 14 votes against, with 39 abstentions and 38 Member States absent, as follows:

Votes in favour: Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Bahrein, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Bhutan, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, France, Gabon, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of),  Ireland, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Lao’s People’s Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Libya, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives,  Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Oman, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Zimbabwe.  

Votes against: Australia, Austria, Brazil, Cameroon, Canada, Colombia, Czech Republic, Germany, Honduras, Hungary, Israel, Netherlands, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America

Abstentions: Bahamas, Belize, Bulgaria, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Iceland, Italy, Kenia, Latvia, Liberia, Lithuania, Madagascar, Malawi, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Norway, Panama, Poland, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Ukraine, Uruguay and Zambia.

Absent: Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Azerbaijan, Benin, Cambodia, Cook Islands, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Lesotho, Mali, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Nepal, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Serbia, Seychelles, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

Several delegates gave an explanation of vote under Rule 77 of the Rules of Procedure. The draft decision contained in document A74/B/CONF./3 was approved and the item was closed. The meeting was adjourned.

4.       Strategic briefings

The following strategic briefings will take place during the Seventy-fourth World Health Assembly and will be live-streamed via the following link:
https://www.who.int/news-room/events/detail/2021/05/25/default-calendar/strategic-briefings-seventy-fourth-world-health-assembly

Thursday, 27 May

13:10–13:50

Safe societies and environments for health: the path to build forward better, healthier and greener
(Pillar 3)

Friday, 28 May

13:10–13:50

Preventing sexual exploitation and abuse: from policy to practice (Pillar 4)

5.  Arrangement for the conduct of discussion in meetings

Verbal statements

Member State delegations are asked to observe the time limit for verbal statements during the virtual sessions: individual statements by Member States and Associate Members be limited to three minutes (330 words), except for statements provided under items 17 Public health emergencies: preparedness and response and 18 Mental health preparedness for and response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In relation to the (3) statements provided under those two items, four minutes (440 words) will be allotted for statements by Member States and Associate Members. Regional and group statements will be limited to four minutes (440 words). Delegations providing group statements are discouraged from taking the floor subsequently to provide a national statement. In addition, delegations on whose behalf a group statement is provided, are discouraged from subsequently taking the floor except to provide any brief additional comments that were not covered by the group statement.

Statements by Observers, invited representatives of invited United Nations and other participating intergovernmental organizations will be limited to two minutes (220 words) and statements by non-State actors in official relations with the Organization will be limited to one minute. On selected agenda items, a limited number of non-State actor constituencies will deliver “constituency statements” limited to three minutes.

To ensure that statements are interpreted as clearly as possible, delegates are requested to submit a copy of their statements at least one hour in advance by email to interpret@who.int , to close windows to reduce background noise and to use high quality headsets with echo cancelling microphones.

Written statements

Member States and Associate Members are invited to submit written statements for posting on the website in the language of submission in accordance with the guidelines for written statements in decision EB146(17).

Observers, invited representatives of the United Nations and of other participating and intergovernmental organizations are also invited to submit written statements in accordance with those guidelines. Non-State actors are invited to submit written statements as per the practical information for representatives of non-State actors in official relations with WHO.

In accordance with the guidelines, statements may be provided in any of the six WHO official languages and should be limited to 500 words for individual statements and 800 words for group statements. They should be submitted to statements@who.int, clearly indicating the relevant agenda item or sub-item in the subject line.

Video statements

Member States and Associate Members may submit a pre-recorded video statement in place of live interventions. Video statements should be received by Wednesday 19 May (COB) and may be uploaded at the following link: https://bit.ly/31VHUFP. The following time limits will apply: Member States and Associate Members - three minutes and Group statements - four minutes. When uploading each video, please indicate clearly the relevant agenda item or sub-item in the description field. Videos received after the deadline, exceeding the time limits or labelled in such a way that the relevant agenda item or sub-item cannot be identified, may not be played. Video statements may be included in the live streaming and therefore will be included in the official records.

6.  Announcements

Virtual Meeting Platform for WHA74

The Zoom platform will be used for virtual sessions of WHA74. In order to ensure good sound quality on the virtual platform, please ensure that when taking the floor to deliver a statement, you select the language on the interpretation channel in which you are planning to speak and use high-quality headsets with echo cancelling microphones and webcam. We recommend that you use a personal computer, rather than a smartphone or tablet, and download the latest version of the Zoom software. Please deliver your statement at a moderate speed that allows for its interpretation and ensures your message is conveyed clearly and accurately.

Support

For support related to the virtual platform, please send an email to GBS-IT-Support@who.int.            

Video streaming

The Plenary and Committee A and B sessions will be webcast in the six UN languages. The webcasts can be viewed on Mac and PCs, as well as all mobile devices including iPhone, iPad, Android and Windows-enabled phones.

Arabic:            https://player.4am.ch/who/20210524-0601_wha74/player.html?lang=ar

Chinese:         https://player.4am.ch/who/20210524-0601_wha74/player.html?lang=zh

English:           https://player.4am.ch/who/20210524-0601_wha74/player.html?lang=en

French:           https://player.4am.ch/who/20210524-0601_wha74/player.html?lang=fr

Russian:          https://player.4am.ch/who/20210524-0601_wha74/player.html?lang=ru

Spanish:          https://player.4am.ch/who/20210524-0601_wha74/player.html?lang=es

WHA App

The World Health Assembly application allows you to receive updates on the WHA74 programme of work and access documentation directly on your mobile device. Scan the QR code below and download the application in your device.

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