Pandemic prevention, preparedness and response: Mayors’ voices matter

As States have embarked in two parallel processes aiming at better preparing the world for the next pandemic, it is important that the voices of mayors are heard in a matter that bears significant impact on their cities.

The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that cities often bear the brunt of emergencies and that they were on the frontline of the response. Mayors implemented national measures to contain the spread of the virus, to provide information to their population, to identify, protect and assist those in need, to reorganize urban mobility during the health emergency, as well as to help the local economy recover from the shock.

Hence, it is important to involve mayors in preventing, preparing and responding to the next pandemic. Acknowledging their role and including their perspectives in the current intergovernmental negotiations is crucial to realize a whole-of-government approach and to ensure that mayors will play their part in the implementation of these global instruments.

The briefing will provide an overview of the intergovernmental negotiations at the World Health Organization on an international instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response and on the revision of the International Health Regulations. It will highlight technical and political issues, including specific provisions relevant to mayors. Additionally, a “Mayor’s declaration for better pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response” will be presented and discussed.

Speakers

• Ilona Kickbush, Founder & Chair, Global Health Centre, Graduate Institute for International & Development Studies, Geneva
• Rebecca Katz, Professor & Director, Centre for Global Health Science & Security, Georgetown University, Washington
• Ricardo Rio, Mayor of Braga, Portugal
• Jeni Arndt, Mayor of Fort Collins, USA
• Manuel De Araujo, Mayor of Quelimane, Mozambique

Registration

Please follow the link to register.