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The Indian Express
Explained: The Covid-19 resolution at the World Health Assembly
While the resolution has been endorsed at the WHA, it remains to be seen how the probe will be carried out and to what degree of independence.
By: Explained Desk | New Delhi | Updated: May 21, 2020 2:19:30 pm
At the virtual 73rd World Health Assembly (WHA) during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Geneva, Switzerland, May 19, 2020. (Christopher Black/WHO/Handout via Reuters)
The 73rd session of the World Health Assembly (WHA) took place virtually from May 18-19. During the session, countries including India, Japan, Indonesia, New Zealand, UK and Canada accepted a resolution asking for an “impartial, independent and comprehensive evaluation” of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) response to the pandemic as well as the identification of the “zoonotic” source of the coronavirus.
The origin of the virus is currently believed to be a wet market in Wuhan, China. According to a Reuters report, 116 of the 194 member states were in favour of the resolution.
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Australia’s Foreign Minister Marise Payne Monday hailed the global support into a comprehensive investigation into the Covid-19 response.
Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel, meanwhile, said “no country can solve this problem alone” and backed the WHO’s efforts to combat the outbreak. Merkel added that countries should “work to improve procedures” and the WHO should ensure its funding is sustainable.
What is the WHA draft resolution?
On Tuesday, the resolution brought forward by the European Union (EU) and moved by Australia on behalf of more than 100 countries including India, Australia and Japan, was endorsed at the Assembly.
While it does not mention China, the draft says the Director General of the WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus should continue “to work closely with the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and countries, as part of the One-Health Approach to identify the zoonotic source of the virus and the route of introduction to the human population, including the possible role of intermediate hosts, including through efforts such as scientific and collaborative field missions, which will enable targeted interventions and a research agenda to reduce the risk of similar events as well as to provide guidance on how to prevent SARS-COV2 infection in animals and humans and prevent the establishment of new zoonotic reservoirs, as well as to reduce further risks of emergence and transmission of zoonotic diseases.”
Further, the resolution states, “Initiate, at the earliest appropriate moment, and in consultation with Member States, (1) a stepwise process of impartial, independent and comprehensive evaluation, including using existing mechanisms, (2) as appropriate, to review experience gained and lessons learned from the WHO-coordinated international health response to COVID-19.”
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So, what does this mean for China?
While the resolution has been endorsed at the WHA, it remains to be seen how the probe will be carried out and to what degree of independence. Significantly, the timeline of the probe is also not clear. So far, China has opposed demands calling for an international investigation into the virus.
On Monday, China’s premier Xi Jinping announced a $2 billion donation to the United Nations, which is over twice the amount the US contributed before Trump cut off funding. It also offered to set up hospitals and health infrastructure in Africa.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the WHA, Xi said China “supports” the idea of a comprehensive review of the global response towards Covid-19 after it was brought under control.
The Trump administration sees China’s announcement as a way to escape scrutiny over its alleged role in delaying providing information about the disease outbreak.
https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/world-health-assembly-coronavirus-resolution-explained-6418945/
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According to the China-owned Global Times, China won the show down.
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By Anthony Galloway and Eryk Bagshaw
Updated May 19, 2020 — 10.38pmfirst published at 10.08pm
A historic motion led by the European Union and Australia to establish an independent review of the coronavirus has passed the World Health Assembly.
The unanimous vote was carried without objection just before 10pm on Tuesday night. The decision will see an inquiry into the origins and international response to the coronavirus established at the earliest possible opportunity.
The review will identify the source of the virus and the route of introduction from other animals to the human population, as well as consider lessons learned from the WHO-coordinated international health response to COVID-19.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus welcomed the resolution and said he would enact the inquiry at the appropriate time.
“We want accountability more than anyone,” he said in his closing address.
The vote followed weeks of negotiations and rising diplomatic tension that have put Australia between the US and China as the world grapples with the fallout from the largest pandemic in a century.
China’s last-minute decision to co-sponsor the resolution means it passed with full consensus at the meeting of the assembly.
China had opposed Australia’s calls for an independent global inquiry, but has now insisted the motion it co-sponsored is vastly different to Canberra’s position.
The motion was originally put forward by the European Union, but after negotiations with a number of countries, including Australia, it was strengthened to explicitly state the review should be “impartial, independent and comprehensive”. Australia lobbied the United States and the United Kingdom to join the resolution last week.
The final text of the key clause establishing an independent review is the same as a second draft published by the EU and backed by Australia on the weekend.
The final motion calls for the review to be coordinated by WHO, whose own role in handling the pandemic has been called into question.
Australia’s amendments to the EU motion focused on an independent and comprehensive evaluation at the earliest possible moment, with a particular emphasis on the WHO-coordinated international health response to COVID-19.
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