Topic: Who Treaty

The Global Preparedness Monitoring Board has called for a worldwide pandemic simulation to be conducted by the end of 2023. This exercise is intended to test the effectiveness of the new WHO pandemic treaty terms before they are signed in 2024. The proposal draws comparisons to "Event 201," the 2019 simulation that preceded the COVID-19 pandemic.

The WHO is currently negotiating a new international accord on pandemic preparedness and considering targeted amendments to the International Health Regulations. These changes aim to "sharpen" the tools available for declaring global emergencies with less individual member state involvement. Critics argue these amendments are a way for the White House to bypass the treaty process and grant the WHO more centralized power.

The Biden administration is accused of bypassing Congress to amend a ratified treaty that would grant the World Health Organization power over national pandemic responses. The hosts compare this legal maneuver to the Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) and predict widespread public compliance with future mandates.

European Parliamentarian Christine Anderson warns that proposed amendments to the World Health Organization's International Health Regulations could grant the body executive governance powers during pandemics. Critics argue this disenfranchises citizens by transferring authority to non-elected officials. The hosts debate whether these changes constitute a legally binding treaty for member states.