WHO WATCH: Seventh Meeting of the Working Group on Amendments to the IHR | February 5, 2024

‘In May 2022, the World Health Assembly agreed to embark on a process to consider proposed amendments to the current International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR). The process is being led by the Member States of WHO through the Working Group on Amendments to the International Health Regulations (WGIHR) and builds on lessons learned from the various review panels that examined the functioning of the IHR and the global health security architecture during the COVID-19 pandemic.

‘The seventh meeting of the Working Group on Amendments to the International Health Regulations (2005) (WGIHR) will be held from 5-9 February 2024.

‘The opening plenary session, which will begin at 9:30 CEST on Monday, 5 February, will be publicly webcast. As agreed by the WGIHR, it will be open to WHO Member States, Associate Members and regional economic integration organizations, as well as to relevant stakeholders. During this session, stakeholders will be invited to deliver their interventions (Agenda Item 1: Opening and Adoption of the Agenda).

‘The WGIHR will then hold a drafting session to negotiate text proposed by the Bureau for some articles and annexes, and, for others, to continue discussing an approach to the development of the proposed text for negotiation. This session will be held with attendance limited to WHO Member States; Associate Members; regional economic integration organizations; the Holy See and Liechtenstein as States Parties to the IHR that are not Member States of WHO; and the Observer Delegation of Palestine.

‘The closing plenary of the WGIHR7, expected to be held on the afternoon of Friday, 9 February 2024, will be open and publicly webcast. During this session, the WGIHR will discuss the report of the meeting.’