For the week of 17 to 20 July  2023

#PandemicTreaty #INB6 #ProtectWorkers 

Background

The World Health Organization (WHO) is spearheading the development of a global agreement, known as the Pandemic Treaty, aimed at handling health crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. See our PSI Explainer for more background.

The Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) has been drafting this treaty since February 2023 which involves input from a variety of actors, including health and care workers. 

Health and care workers have been making sure their voices are heard by talking with government leaders, writing letters, and sharing their demands. These efforts have yielded positive results, as the latest Bureau text has multiple references to the rights of health and care workers.

But there's more work to do. While we continue to advocate for improved protections and better working conditions, we face setbacks in significant areas. For more information, see our in-depth analysis at the end of our Call to Action.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, we actively campaigned for fairer access to vaccines. Our efforts led to a reflection of our concerns in the initial drafts of the treaty. But now, these provisions have been weakened, so it's more important than ever that we continue to advocate for our cause.

The next round of negotiations is happening from July 17-21 and we need your help to make sure our collective voice is heard at the WHO. 

Join our social media action on Monday, 17th July 2023 to collectively call on to the member states of WHO to prioritise worker’s rights in the Pandemic Treaty.

Suggested Tweets/retweets

• Health and care workers are the frontline defence against pandemics. They deserve safety, protection &  Decent Work. @WHO, make these a cornerstone of the #PandemicTreaty #INB6 #ProtectWorkers 

• Decent Work conditions are non-negotiable, even during a pandemic! @WHO, labour rights, improved conditions & adequate ratios for health and care workers need to be a cornerstone of the #PandemicTreaty. Dignity for health and care workers. #INB6 #ProtectWorkers 

• Public funding in health research is crucial. @WHO, the #PandemicTreaty should ensure transparency and accountability in using public funds for pandemic solutions. #INB6 #ProtectWorkers

• Monopolies on life-saving treatments and vaccines impede global access. We need a #TRIPSWaiver during a health crisis. @WHO, include this crucial provision in the #PandemicTreaty #INB6 #ProtectWorkers 

• Let's learn from COVID-19: health crises require collective action and solidarity. We call on @WHO to ensure the #PandemicTreaty protects worker rights, funds public research, and ensures equitable access to treatments #INB6 #ProtectWorkers 

• Universal health access is a right, not a privilege. @WHO, ensure the #PandemicTreaty includes robust mechanisms for equitable distribution of treatments and vaccines. #INB6 #ProtectWorkers 

Suggested Facebook posts

Health and Care Workers' Rights and Safety: 

• As we've seen throughout the pandemic, health and care workers are our frontline defence. They've shown bravery, dedication, and resilience, working tirelessly to protect us all. Their voices matter now more than ever. We urge the World Health Organization to prioritise and safeguard their rights in the ongoing negotiations for the #PandemicTreaty #INB6. These workers' safety, protection, and right to decent work must be at the very cornerstone of the treaty. The dignity of health and care workers should not be compromised, even in the face of a pandemic. The treaty should secure measures against violence and intimidation while ensuring decent work conditions. We stand with health workers globally, they deserve respect, protection, and fair treatment. #ProtectWorkers 

Public Funding Transparency and Accountability: 

• Public funding plays a crucial role in response to a pandemic. That's why transparency and accountability in its use should be a non-negotiable aspect of the #PandemicTreaty. We call on the World Health Organization to hold manufacturers accountable. Companies that benefit from public funds must disclose their prices and contracts. As actors in global health, we have a right to know how our resources are being utilised. The Pandemic Treaty should ensure complete transparency and accountability in using public funds for pandemic solutions. #ProtectWorkers #INB6

• One big concern is about the #PandemicTreaty #INB6 is funding for medical research. During COVID-19, public money helped create new treatments and vaccines. But some companies then took this publicly-funded research and made it private, making a lot of profit. The first version of the treaty included a provision that said companies who get public money have to be transparent about their prices and contracts, but this got taken out of the new draft. We see this as a step backward and need to fight against it. We call on the World Health Organization (@WHO) to hold manufacturers accountable. 
  

Intellectual Property Rights and Access to Treatments: 

• During a health crisis, actions speak louder than words. That's why we need @WHO to commit to Intellectual Property (IP) waivers during pandemics in the #PandemicTreaty. This is about accelerating our collective response to save lives. Access to life-saving treatments must not be monopolised - our global community deserves better. The treaty should ensure genuine access to pandemic solutions and include waivers on patents to facilitate this. Remember, intellectual property rights should never outweigh human lives. #ProtectWorkers #INB6

• One big concern about the #PandemicTreaty #INB6 is who gets access to life-saving treatments and vaccines. Right now, some companies have a monopoly on making these products. This makes it harder for everyone around the world to get what they need. We need a rule in the treaty which says that in a health crisis, these monopolies should be paused to let more companies produce these products. But this idea has been watered down in the new draft. #ProtectWorkers #INB6

Equity in Global Health Policy:

• Health crises do not discriminate; they can affect anyone, anywhere. That's why our response needs to be all-encompassing. We've learned from COVID-19 that health crises require collective action, solidarity, and an equity-based approach. Let's ensure that the Pandemic Treaty reflects these lessons, protects worker rights, funds public research, and guarantees equitable access to treatments. We urge the @WHO to include robust mechanisms for equitable distribution of treatments and vaccines in the #PandemicTreaty. No one is safe until everyone is safe. #ProtectWorkers #INB6

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