(The New York Times) —The World Health Organization’s member states on Wednesday took the first step toward what many governments hope will be a legally binding treaty aimed at strengthening global defenses against pandemics.

«Historic decision «

At the Special Session of the World Health Assembly  W. H.O. Member States agreed to set up an intergovernmental negotiating body (INB)  that is to meet no later than  the first of March 2022, to begin negotiating an international agreement intended to ensure a more coherent and equitable response to future pandemics and to submit its outcome for consideration to the World Health Assembly in 2024.

 In his statement  addressing to the Assembly  the W.H.O. Director-general, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, welcomed the decision adopted 1 Dec.,2021, to establish an intergovernmental negotiating body (INB)  to draft and negotiate a WHO convention, agreement or other international instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response, with a view to adoption under Article 19, or under other provisions of the WHO Constitution as may be deemed appropriate by the intergovernmental negotiating body.