We congratulate the real progress achieved during the 12th meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB12) to advance a pandemic agreement. While negotiations have been challenging, this progress reflects continued commitment to global solidarity against pandemic threats and diligence of negotiators coming together to find solutions.

Collectively, we urge WHO Member States to continue to work together and expeditiously advance a final pandemic agreement that is grounded in equity, commits to prevention, advances sustainable financing, and protects all people, everywhere. No one and no country is immune from pandemics. Recent outbreaks of mpox, Marburg, and H5N1 and problems — including the lack of access to tools — only underscore the continued threat. We must urgently advance global agreements and systems that align our response. A pandemic agreement is a critical vehicle to cement commitment and priorities for collective action, and structures like its Conference of Parties will allow it to change and develop as we respond to challenges of the future.

Civil society remains committed partners in the INB process, and we stand ready to support with expertise and knowledge. To be most effective, we continue to call for a process that increases engagement of relevant stakeholders to fuel an agreement that reflects an inclusive, whole-of-society approach.

A finish line to this pandemic agreement is in sight. We urge Member States to keep up the momentum and negotiate a final agreement that has a clear path to adoption, and can serve as a baseline for global action against pandemic threats.

Signed by:

Pandemic Action Network
Panel for a Global Public Health Convention
Spark Street Advisers
The Right Honourable Helen Clark on behalf of The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response, and also a member of The Elders
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Co-Chair of The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response and also a member of The Elders
Ban Ki-moon, Deputy Chair of the Elders, and Gro Harlem Brundtland, Mary Robinson and Ernesto Zedillo, Members of The Elders
Ibrahim Abubakar, Palitha Abeykoon, Bente Angell-Hansen, Victor J. Dzau, Chris Elias, Zijian Feng, Bience Gawanas, Jayati Ghosh, Naoko Ishii, Ilona Kickbusch, Mark Lowcock, Joy Phumaphi, Maha El Rabbat, Matthew Stone, Members of the Global Preparedness Monitoring Board (GPMB)