As requested by Human Rights Council resolution 50/13, the High Commissioner for Human Rights will organize an expert workshop on good practices in ensuring access to medicines, vaccines and other health products in the context of the right of everyone to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.

Format and Participants:

The expert workshop will be held in virtual format, via Webex or pre-recorded video messages (see requirements for remote participation and Webex User Guide). No interpretation will be available.

The expert workshop will consist of two sessions. Each session will last for 2 hours and include presentations from experts followed by a plenary discussion:

Session 1 (10:00 to 12:00 CET) will focus on policies, good practices and public health responses to ensure access to medicines, vaccines and other health products;

Session 2 (15:00 to 17:00 CET) will focus on international cooperation, tools and global partnerships to enhance access to medicines, vaccines and other health products.

A compendium of good practices will be presented to the Human Rights Council at its 53^rd session.

Participants shall be invited as experts given their experience and work on access to medicines, vaccines and other health products. The expert workshop will be open to representatives of Member States, the treaty bodies and the special procedures, the United Nations system, academia, national human rights institutions and civil society.

Participants to the virtual consultation must register via Indico. Only those registered will receive the link to join the event, shortly before it starts. Please remember to indicate in the registration form whether you wish to intervene as a speaker during the Questions & Answers sessions. Registration will close on 10 February 2023.

For details, see Concept Note, Programme of Work and Flyer.

Statements

Welcome & opening remarks

• Ms. Peggy Hicks, Director of the Thematic Engagement, Special Procedures and Right to Development Division (TESPRDD), OHCHR

PANEL I POLICIES, GOOD PRACTICES AND PUBLIC HEALTH RESPONSES TO ENSURE ACCESS TO MEDICINES, VACCINES AND OTHER HEALTH PRODUCTS

• Ms. Tlaleng Mofokeng, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health [written statement]
• Ms. Lisa Hedman, Senior Advisor, Supply and Access to Medicines Division, World Health Organization [written statement]
• Ms. Adriana Ivama Brummell, Health Regulatory Expert, Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency (Especialista em regulação e vigilância sanitaria, Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária) [written statement]
• Mr. Fadi Makki, Partner & Director, Boston Consulting Group’s Behavioral Science Lab; Founder of Nudge Lebanon [written statement]

INTERACTIVE DIALOGUE

• India
• Malaysia
• Treatment Action Group (TAG)

PANEL II INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION, TOOLS AND GLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS TO ENHANCE ACCESS TO MEDICINES, VACCINES AND OTHER HEALTH PRODUCTS

• Ms. Mary Maclennan, Senior Advisor, Behavioural Science, Executive Office of the UN Secretary-General;
• Ms. Gita Sen, Professor Emeritus, Indian Institute of Management Bangalore [written statement]
• Ms. Veronika J. Wirtz, Professor, Department of Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health [written statement] [Priority Medicines for Europe and the World 2013] [Essential medicines for universal health coverage]
• Mr. Thomas Cueni, Director General, International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufactures and Associations (IFPMA)

INTERACTIVE DIALOGUE

• Iran

Closing remarks

• Mr. Pradeep Wagle, Chief of Economic and Social Rights Section, OHCHR

Background Documents:

• Access to medicines, vaccines and other health products in the context of the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health (A/HRC/RES/50/13)
• Ensuring equitable, affordable, timely and universal access for all countries to vaccines in response to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic - Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (A/HRC/52/56)
• Human rights implications of the lack of affordable, timely, equitable and universal access and distribution of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines and the deepening inequalities between States – Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (A/HRC/49/35)
• WHO Road Map for Access to Medicines, Vaccines and other Related Health Products 2019–2023 
• HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE NEW PANDEMICS INSTRUMENT - KEY MESSAGES
• HUMAN RIGHTS AND ACCESS TO COVID-19 VACCINES (Developed in Dec. 2020)