World health, solidarity and multilateral diplomacy under serious test

Hoping that an anti- COVID-19 vaccine will be soon available, it is vital to fully implement the UN recommendation according to which all states and relevant organizations are expected to reinforce immunization and vaccination as one of the most important ways to reduce the number of deaths caused by preventable diseases and also to reinforce in their societies the safety and efficacy of vaccines, aiming at eliminating vaccine preventable diseases. All states should strengthen public health surveillance and data systems, improve routine immunization and vaccination capacities, including by providing evidence-based information on countering vaccine hesitancy, and expand vaccine coverage to prevent outbreaks, as well as the spread and re-emergence of communicable and non-communicable diseases, including for vaccine-preventable diseases already eliminated.

Under the current emergencies provoked by COVID-19, special attention should be paid to the recommendation that states should enhance cooperation at the national, regional and global levels to address antimicrobial resistance, using an integrated and systems-based one-health approach, including through health system strengthening, capacity-building, including for research and regulatory capacity, and technical support and ensure equitable access to affordable, safe, effective and quality existing and new antimicrobial medicines, vaccines and diagnostics, as well as effective stewardship, as antimicrobial resistance poses a challenge to achieving universal health coverage.

A promise

It should be reminded that in a lucid assessment of the situation, the WHO came to the conclusion that it is still possible to interrupt coronavirus spread, provided that countries put in place strong measures to detect disease early, isolate and treat cases, trace contacts, and promote social distancing measures commensurate with the risk.

At the same time, the WHO formulated an imperative prerequisite for the success of robust collective efforts. Yes, the global community should continue to demonstrate solidarity and cooperation, in supporting each other on the identification of the source of this new virus, its full potential for human-to-human transmission, preparedness for potential importation of cases, and research for developing necessary treatment.

It is not the purpose of these pages to present in detail all the relevant provisions of the resolutionGlobal health and foreign policy: an inclusive approach to strengthening health systems which must be on the mandatory reading list of all decision -makers in nearly 200 states and territories.

But it is also appropriate to remind that as early as on 19 February 2000 the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) adopted by consensus a document entitled Bangkok Declaration: Global Dialogue and Dynamic Engagement which containsrelevant provisions fully applicable during coronavirus times.

According to this Declaration "Solidarity and a strong sense of moral responsibility must be the guiding light of national and international policy. They are not only ethical imperatives, but also prerequisites for a prosperous, peaceful and secure world based on true partnership".

In the light of this requirement, in 2020 multilateral diplomacy must be aware that more inclusive, transparent and participatory institutional arrangements are necessary to fight COVID-19 at the global level.

What is really urgent is to put into practice the recommendations contained in the recent report of the UN Secretary -General Antonio Guterres, - a document insufficiently publicized by mass-media,- entitled Shared responsibility and global solidarity in response to the impacts of COVID-19.In the final part of this report, the UN Secretary -General stated :"What the world needs now is solidarity. With solidarity we can defeat the virus and build a better world."The same idea was strongly reiterated before the UN Security Council on April 9, in an informal meeting. Antonio Guterres re-emphasised the idea that to prevail against COVID-19, we will need to work together. That means heightened solidarity. At the end of this meeting, the Security Council issued a statement expressing support for the Secretary-General's efforts concerning the potential impact of the pandemic to conflict-affected countries, and the need for unity and solidarity with all those affected.

From this new perspective, it appears that multilateral diplomacy in international organisations can be successful if and when it is animated by global solidarity.