E-DRUG: HAI Global Letter to Margaret Chan on NGO particpation during WHA
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Dr Margaret Chan
Director General
World Health Organization
Avenue Appia 20
1211 Geneva 27
Switzerland
23rd March 2010
Dear Dr Chan,
Sixty-Third World Health Assembly - Practical Information to delegates
of Non-Government Organisations (NGOs)
I am in receipt of an official invitation for delegates of Health Action
International (HAI), an NGO in Official Relations with WHO, to attend
the 63rd World Health Assembly in May. However, I am dismayed and
disappointed at the decision not to allow NGO Briefings (side events) in
the evenings during the week of the assembly, and I am now writing to
ask you to reconsider this decision.
As you are aware, there are already many restrictions on the way in
which NGOs in Official Relations with WHO may engage with delegates
during WHA. These restrictions are respected by delegates, but adherence
makes NGO briefings an even more important and effective vehicle for
presenting the NGO perspective on the health issues under discussion at
WHA, and in fact, one of the only ways to reach out to delegates and
informing the health debate. By removing these 'side-events', you leave
no arena for WHO partner NGO contributions except interventions in
committee. The proliferation of interventions that may result from the
removal of side events could actually slow down proceedings.
HAI has for many years made use of NGO briefings at the WHA to showcase
its collaborative work with WHO and engage in the debates that surround
the WHA agenda. Indeed, we have launched two WHO/HAI collaborative
publications at consecutive WHA (2008, 2009). This year, civil society
colleagues from HAI Africa were planning to hold an NGO briefing
specifically on an innovative monitoring tool for the Global Strategy
and Plan of Action (GSPA)on public health, innovation and intellectual
property. This most prestigious and essential global platform for NGO
representation is now being denied.
I therefore ask you to reconsider the decision to deny side events which
only serves to silence the voice of NGOs in official relations with WHO,
and on whose collaboration the WHO depends.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours Sincerely,
Tim Reed, Director
Health Action International
HAI Global
"Sophie Bloemen" <Sophie@haiweb.org>