WHO - EB 150 - EU Statement: Item 15.3 WHO’s work in health emergencies / Item 15.5 Global Health for Peace Initiative

Chair,

Director-General,

Members of the Executive Board,

Colleagues,

The Candidate Countries the Republic of North Macedonia[1], Montenegro[1] and Albania[1], the country of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidate Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as Ukraine and Georgia align themselves with this statement.

On Item 15.3, we note the report and highly appreciate the immense and complex work done by WHO in Health Emergencies.

WHO helps strengthen capacities to implement the IHR, and monitors and communicates health alerts coming in on various surveillance systems on a daily basis. All this work requires immediate and sustained attention of qualified staff.

WHO is collaborating with 900 partners in providing operational support and supplies for COVID-19 in 56 countries, reaching 160 million people, while simultaneously providing health services to 76 graded emergencies, many of which are in humanitarian and conflict settings.

Lack of access, insecurity, and attacks on health facilities further complicate the work. Safe working conditions are essential for health care workers and for patients, and we therefore see value in the continued surveillance of and reporting on attacks on health care by WHO, as described in the report

We also recommend the following:

• to increase the visibility of WHO’s normative and concrete operational work in humanitarian emergencies, which in almost all cases have a health component
• and to urge Member States and WHO to improve the link between three essential aspects for a strong and fit-for-purpose WHO in emergencies. namely to establish an effective link between, first, the systems for preparing and responding to health emergencies, second, its governance, and third, the required funding to operate effectively and with speed.

On Item 15.5, the Global Health for Peace initiative, we thank Oman and Switzerland as well as WHO for their leadership

As a champion for global health, peacebuilding and humanitarian action, the European Union is proud to lend its support to this initiative.

In the midst of the current COVID-19 pandemic, we must not forget ongoing, often protracted conflict and crisis situations and their consequences on health, including the health of affected populations, health systems, health workers and health facilities. Member States must ensure unimpeded flow of life-saving medical supplies in all regions where WHO is intervening.

Conceptualising a “health and peace nexus” presents hitherto untapped opportunities and synergies.

We therefore encourage WHO to continue to advance this initiative and to mainstream conflict-sensitivity and peace-responsiveness in its programming;

We welcome the decision proposed by Oman and Switzerland which includes a request to WHO to develop an implementation roadmap, after consultations.

Generally, we encourage WHO and other relevant organizations to continue providing support to health facilities and medical personnel based in conflict-affected settings, and to continue advocacy and awareness raising for compliance with International Humanitarian Law.

Partnerships with relevant organizations the UN system and beyond will be crucial to foster a comprehensive approach and sharing of best practices. Non-state actors and local communities should also be included in the implementation of peace and health programmes.

We also note that in crises, women and girls often carry the highest burden. Women’s role in decision-making, in turn can critically strengthen the response and resilience of the entire society.

Finally, UHC will be a key driver to address health, peace and security at large. We therefore encourage WHO to continue strengthening health systems and access to health care and services, with due attention to mental health and psychosocial support as well as sexual and gender-based violence, to leverage strong and resilient health responses in conflict-sensitive settings and to foster social cohesion.

We are glad to announce that the EU co-sponsors the decision on the Global Health for Peace Initiative.

[1] The Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro and Albania continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.