U.S. Explanation of Vote: Israel’s Proposal to Revise WHA Provisional Agenda
Explanation of Vote
by the United States at the
World Health Organization Executive Board
January 26, 2021
The United States voted in favor of the proposal by the government of Israel to revise the provisional Agenda for the WHA.
The Board’s authority on this matter under the WHO Rules of Procedure, Rule 4 is quite clear: “the Executive Board shall prepare the provisional agenda of each regular session of the Health Assembly after consideration of proposals submitted by the Director-General.”
The Board should send a clean Agenda to the WHA that moves stand-alone item 25 to where it will be reported on and can be discussed along with other health emergency situations.
Folding item 25 under item 16.3 on health emergencies would streamline the agenda, stop the practice of singling out one country at the WHO, and contribute to good governance and reform at WHO. It does not deny the discussion of the issue but places it where it should be.
The Executive Board must do its job and help bring the international community together instead of perpetuating political division, and to help ensure the productivity of the WHA in May.