Monaco participates in second meeting of WHO Working Group on Amendments to the International Health Regulations

2ème réunion du Groupe de travail sur les amendements au Règlement Sanitaire International de l’OMS ©DR

A Monegasque delegation led by H.E. Ms Carole Lanteri, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Principality of Monaco to the Office of the United Nations in Geneva, took part in the second meeting of the World Health Organization (WHO) Working Group on Amendments to the International Health Regulations from Monday 20 to Friday 24 February 2023.

The International Health Regulations (2005) are an international, legally binding framework on prevention, protection and control relating to the international spread of disease. There are 196 States Parties to the Regulations. However, the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted gaps in the implementation of this framework. As a result, the World Health Assembly commissioned a working group to come up with targeted amendments to the 2005 Regulations.

During this second meeting, the working group undertook a first reading of the 300 proposals submitted. The Principality expressed its position several times, speaking on behalf of a broad group of countries (including the United States of America and the United Kingdom) to remind the meeting that the working group was required to focus its attention and financial resources on strengthening and modernising the 2005 Regulations within the boundaries of its current scope.

WHO is the United Nations organisation specialising in public health. The organisation was founded in 1948 and today has 194 Member States. Its role is to manage and coordinate global health within the United Nations system. The Principality has been a member of WHO since the organisation was established.