The Central Role of the State in Responding to Pandemics and Other Health Emergencies, and the Socioeconomic Consequences Thereof in Advancing Sustainable Development and the Realization of All Human Rights

A/HRC/RES/44/2View PDF

Who adopted this document and its mandates?

A Resolution of the Human Rights Council, under agenda item 2 Annual report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and reports of the Office of the High Commissioner and the Secretary-General, published in 2020.

What subjects does this mandate have?

9 subjects

Covid-19 Disease Control Evaluation Human Rights International Cooperation Medical Supplies Pandemics Sustainable Development Technical Cooperation

What’s in this document?

10 operative paragraphs

Underscores the central role of the State in responding to pandemics and other health emergencies, and the socioeconomic consequences thereof in advancing sustainable development and the realization of all human rights;

Reaffirms the importance of international cooperation, in particular during times of health emergencies and pandemics, on the basis of mutual respect, in full compliance with the principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations, with full respect for the sovereignty of States while taking into account national priorities;

Also reaffirms that emergency measures taken by States in response to the COVID-19 pandemic must be in accordance with States’ obligations under applicable international human rights law;

Stresses the need for States to collaborate with all relevant stakeholders, to take collective action in response to pandemics and health emergencies, and the socioeconomic consequences thereof, in advancing sustainable development and the realization of all human rights;

Calls for universal, timely and equitable access to and fair distribution of all quality, safe, efficacious and affordable essential health technologies and products, including their components and precursors required in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic as a global priority, and the urgent removal of unjustified obstacles thereto, in accordance with the provisions of relevant international treaties, including the provisions of the World Trade Organization Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS Agreement) and its flexibilities, as confirmed by the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health;

Emphasizes the importance of timely, equitable and unhindered access to safe, affordable, effective and quality medicines, vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics, and other health products and technologies necessary to ensure an adequate and effective response to the pandemic, including for the most vulnerable people affected by armed conflict, extreme poverty, natural disasters or climate change, and of the urgent removal of unjustified obstacles thereto;

Recognizes the role of extensive immunization against COVID-19 as a global public good for health for preventing, containing and stopping transmission in order to bring the pandemic to an end once safe, quality, efficacious, effective, accessible and affordable vaccines are available;

Reiterates the critical importance of the means of implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, while being mindful of the impact of high debt levels on States’ ability to withstand the impact of the pandemic and other health emergencies, and the socioeconomic consequences thereof, in advancing sustainable development and the realization of all human rights;

Requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, working within existing efforts across the United Nations system, and in consultation with States, to conduct a needs assessment, in particular for developing countries, to support their efforts to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms in responding to pandemics and other health emergencies, and the socioeconomic consequences thereof, in advancing sustainable development and the realization of all human rights, and to submit a report thereon to the Human Rights Council at its forty-seventh session during an interactive dialogue, and to provide an oral update to the Council at its fiftieth session, also during an interactive dialogue;

Decides to remain seized of the matter.

Who adopted this document and its mandates?

What subjects does this mandate have?

What’s in this document?

Table of contents