United Nations And World Health Organisation Pandemic Treaties And Their Effect On Human Rights

December 1 deadline looms

New Zealanders are raising real concerns about the World Health Organization’s (WHO) bid for global control of future outbreaks of an infectious pathogen it considers a potential health risk.

A group of concerned citizens is drawing the Attorney General and the Human Rights Commissioner’s attention to the International Health Regulation amendments (IHRAs) that will shorten the time frame for consideration of substantive IHRAs due for agreement at the May 2024 World Health Assembly (WHA). The WHO Pandemic treaty is also due to be ready for adoption at the May 2024 WHA.

Most New Zealanders are unaware that some amendments have already been adopted and considered fine by NZ’s Cabinet held early September 2023 and confirmed by a caretaker Cabinet mid October (after the election but before the new government is confirmed).

Parts of the regulations will automatically come into effect,1 December 2023, unless expressly rejected by our government. The regulations allow for tacit acceptance, or acceptance by a government staying silent. That is, these IHRAs become binding, without reservation, unless expressly rejected, or reserved, by a member state.

The IHRAs that require rejection or reservation by 1 December 2023 dramatically reduce the timeframes for review, rejection and implementation of future IHRAs amendments.

Why this is a concern is what is currently proposed in amendments for adoption mid next year is, the WHO’s recommendations will no longer be non-binding advice or suggestions, ones New Zealand could take or leave. The proposed substantive IHRAs and Pandemic treaty will shift the WHO nations to global agreements that will bind New Zealand to decisions made by the Director General of the WHO and unelected officials in Geneva about any risk to public health (perceived or real).

Do WHO staff in Geneva know what is best for citizens of Whangarei or Otago?

The concerned citizens put their case this week to the Human Rights Commissioner and the Attorney General, their letters are attached.

Spokesperson for the group Katie Ashby-Koppens said “We raise concerns in respect to the four treaties that are at various stages of completeness that are being negotiated under urgency, behind closed doors, by unelected officials.”

She went on to say that this was a problem because “The current versions of the treaties hand the WHO the authority to order individual countries to lockdown, implement vaccine passes, restrict travel, require mandatory vaccination, force medical examinations and censor scientific debate.”

The concerned citizens have sought a response from both the Attorney-General and the Human Rights Commissioner by 24 November 2023, given the very important issues that concern all New Zealanders.

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