In December 2021, at its second-ever special session, the World Health Assembly established an intergovernmental negotiating body (INB) to draft and negotiate a convention, agreement, or other international instrument under the Constitution of the World Health Organization to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response. INB members agreed, through consensus, that they will work to conclude a new, legally binding international pandemic agreement by May 2024. As with all international instruments, any new agreement, when agreed by Member States, is drafted and negotiated by governments themselves, who will take any action in line with their sovereignty.
The INB process is broad and inclusive with strong engagement open to all 194 WHO Member States, as well as relevant stakeholders from around the world, including UN Agencies, intergovernmental organizations and non-State actors in official relations with WHO.
