UN General Assembly adopts a political declaration on pandemics by 153 votes to three
12 October 2026
The United Nations General Assembly on Monday, 12 October 2026, adopted a political declaration on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response by 153 votes in favour to three against, with two abstentions.
Argentina, Israel and the United States voted against; New Zealand and Paraguay abstained.
The text was due to have been approved by consensus at a high-level meeting on 25 September, but objections pushed the issue back to the Assembly.
The declaration is political and non-binding, calls for stronger national, regional and international cooperation guided by science, equity and respect for human rights, and welcomes the World Health Organization Pandemic Agreement adopted last year.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus urged countries to finalise negotiations on the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing annex so the Pandemic Agreement can be opened for signature and enter into force.
The Pandemic Agreement cannot be opened for signature until member states complete that annex, under which countries would share samples and genetic data in return for a share of resulting vaccines, treatments and diagnostics.
The World Health Assembly, comprising the WHO's 194 members, is due to return to the annex next May.
The General Assembly has 193 members.
In plain words
PABS Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing — The system under which countries would share pathogen samples and genetic data in return for a share of the vaccines and treatments that result.
Political declaration — A negotiated statement of intent adopted by states that creates no legal obligation.
World Health Assembly — The supreme decision-making body of the WHO, made up of its 194 member states.
Abstention — A member present at a vote that chooses neither to support nor to oppose the text.