Statement by International Development Law Organization (IDLO)
IDLO welcomes the report by the Director General and would like to highlight the importance of the law and legal preparedness to strengthen global health emergency prevention, preparedness and response both at the global and country level. Strategic resilience is necessary for responses in humanitarian settings to be effective, and investments in the rule of law are key to building such resilience.
Legal preparedness is essential in that regard. Countries need to have adequate national legal systems and legal capacities for effective public health emergency prevention and response. It allows countries to meet their international obligations and standards in compliance with the global health governance instruments. As a crosscutting capacity, it enables effective national systems to advance core health emergency components.
Acknowledging the importance of increasing collaboration between international partners and stakeholders to advance global health, since 2020 IDLO has joined the Global Health Security Agenda and its Legal Preparedness Action Package to further contribute to furthering legal preparedness and support countries in strengthening the required competencies to prepare, prevent and respond to PHEs. Through the LPAP, and in collaboration with its members, IDLO is promoting capacity building initiatives to strengthen countries’ legal preparedness, aiming to build long-term and sustained national capacity across sectors.
IDLO encourages Member States to place emphasis on the importance of legal preparedness as a key enabler for the new global health system and call for ensuring adequate resources to support countries to strengthen their capacities at country level.
We remain committed to continue working with WHO and partners to support Member States in strengthening global health.