Improving indoor air quality
Resolutions presented by WHO Member States at the World Health Assembly are collective decisions that set priorities, provide guidance, and commit countries to action on public health issues.
They are not legally binding, but have strong political value.
These resolutions help coordinate international efforts, mobilize resources, and spur concrete action. They pro-vide a platform to raise awareness of often-neglected health issues. As such, they are a key lever for concerted-ly advancing global health.
The World Health Assembly (WHA) is the WHO’s main decision-making body.
At the World Health Assembly, held in the last week of May each year, representatives of the 194 WHO Member States meet in Geneva to define WHO’s priorities.
WHO priorities are defined through the adoption of resolutions voted on at the WHA.
These proposed resolutions are presented by WHO Member States, who draft the preparatory documents.
These resolutions must follow a three-phase process.
To prepare the proposals, it is necessary to convene a group of experts who will draft a first draft of the proposed resolution. The next step is to find the states that wish to support this resolution. A second version of the proposed resolution will be drafted with the help of these states.
It is important to gain support for this proposal from other states.
This process is lengthy; a year of preparation is required.
Proposed resolutions are sent to the WHO Secretariat in October.
Once the proposed resolution is submitted, it is necessary to convince the 34 member states of the WHA Executive Board as well as the WHO Secretariat.
These proposed resolutions are reviewed by the WHA Executive Board, which meets in Geneva during the last week of January. The WHA Executive Board comprises representatives designated by 34 member states who were elected by the WHA for a three-year term.
Proposed resolutions approved by the WHA Executive Board are included on the WHA agenda.
Once the proposed resolution is placed on the WHA agenda, it is necessary to convince a majority of states to vote for the resolution at the WHA.
Once the resolution is adopted by the WHA, the WHO will be required to take concrete steps to implement the actions defined in the resolution.
The following year, the WHO will present a report to the WHA detailing the actions undertaken during the past year.
The WHO will be required to draft a comprehensive action plan and technical support documents, which will then be adopted and adapted by each country’s ministries of health.
Resolutions are a process at the interface of science and policy.
Resolutions must be based on sound scientific argumentation. This requires a recognized scientific committee.
But the resolution is voted on by politicians. It is therefore important to draft the proposed resolution in simple terms. It is also important to define recommendations that can be translated into concrete action for the WHO.
A major communications campaign is necessary for each of the preparation phases.
This campaign must:
This requires developing advocacy efforts with the permanent missions in Geneva.
It is also important to mobilize the scientific community and civil society. They, in turn, can convince their country’s health ministry.
This advocacy can also rely on parliamentary networks.
These campaigns can take the form of: