Geneva Telegram

Antworten und Klarstellungen zu den Desinformationen rund um das Pandemieabkommen

Genfer Depesche

Für globale Gesundheitsexperten ist eine zukünftige Pandemie nicht eine Frage des Ob, sondern des Wann. Während aktuell die internationale Staatengemeinschaft die Details eines Annex des bereits im Mai 2025 verabschiedeten Pandemieabkommens aushandelt, nehmen nicht nur die Desinformationen zur WHO und zum Pandemieabkommen im Netz zu. Die aktuelle Genfer Depesche bietet Antworten und Klarstellungen zu den Desinformationen rund um das Pandemieabkommen.

Key insights from UNHCR’s new global trends report 2025

The "Geneva Telegram" explores events in Geneva-based multilateral organizations on a current topic. This time, the focus is on the new global trends report of the UNHCR.

On 12 June 2025, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) presented its new global trends report which focuses primarily on developments in 2024, in which 123.3 million people were displaced, 7 million people or 6% more than in the previous year. This is the 13th consecutive increase. The largest displacement crisis worldwide is currently Sudan, with 14.3 million people displaced. Despite the increasing needs, the UNHCR is facing a massive funding crisis, partly due to the financial uncertainty caused by the US foreign aid freeze, and is being forced to cut operations and staff by around 30%. UN High Commissioner Grandi therefore spoke of a ‘crisis of responsibility’ which is likely to fuel only further instability.

The Pandemic Agreement

Opening a Window to Global Cooperation

The "Geneva Telegram" deals with events in Geneva's multilateral organizations on a current topic, this time the successful conclusion of negotiations on the WHO pandemic agreement. Our latest report analyzes the background to the agreement, its key contents and Germany's role in the negotiations.

Geneva Telegram on the 13th meeting of the INB - A crucial moment for the pandemic response

The "Geneva Telegram" deals with events in Geneva's multilateral organizations on a current topic, this time the 13th meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body on the Pandemic Agreement (INB13), which met in Geneva from 17-21 February 2025.

With only five official negotiation days left before the World Health Assembly (WHA) in May—where the agreement is set to be adopted—delegations are under immense time pressure. While some progress has been made, key contentious issues remain unresolved. These include the distribution of resources and technologies during a pandemic, access to pathogens (Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing, PABS), technology transfer, and the definition and financing of prevention measures. Despite geopolitical tensions, there is cautious optimism that an agreement can be reached. The withdrawal of the United States from the negotiations initially created uncertainty but has also reinforced the determination of the international community to push forward and conclude the agreement successfully.

What a second Trump Administration will mean for multilateralism, in particular International Geneva

The "Geneva Telegram" deals with events in Geneva's multilateral organizations on a current topic, this time the possible impact of a second Trump Administration on International Geneva.

Fast, but not fast-tracked

Mitglieder der Welthandelsorganisation (WTO) bestätigen WTO-Generaldirektorin, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala für eine zweite Amtszeit

Am Freitag, den 29.11.2024 bestätigten alle 166 WTO-Mitglieder die amtierende WTO-Generaldirektorin und frühere zweimalige nigerianische Finanzministerin und Direktorin der Weltbank in ihrer zweiten Amtszeit.

The pandemic agreement on the home straight?

The "Geneva Telegram" deals with events in Geneva's multilateral organizations on a current topic, this time the 12th meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body on the World Health Organization (WHO) Pandemic Convention (INB), which met in Geneva from 4 to 15 November 2024.

The 12th meeting of the intergovernmental negotiating body represented a further step in the negotiations on a global pandemic agreement. Although progress was made, the member states decided not to convene a special session of the World Health Assembly (WHA) in December. Instead, the aim is to conclude the negotiations in May 2025 for the next regular World Health Assembly. WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus opened the round of negotiations by emphasising the importance of reaching an agreement in the near future: ‘Perfection must not be the enemy of good.’ Nevertheless, numerous delegations warned that content must take precedence over speed to ensure a robust agreement.

Geneva Telegram on the 11th meeting of the intergovernmental negotiating body on the pandemic agreement

The "Geneva Telegram" deals with events in Geneva's multilateral organizations on a current topic, this time the 11th meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body on the Pandemic Agreement (INB11), which met in Geneva from 9 to 20 September 2024.

This round of negotiations marked another crucial step in the process of finalizing the pandemic agreement. However, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed his disappointment at the lack of significant progress: “Progress has been made, but not to the extent we had hoped for.” The urgency of a binding pandemic agreement has further increased after the WHO Director-General declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on August 14, 2024, due to the ongoing Mpox outbreak on the African continent. This escalation underscores the importance of globally coordinated pandemic preparedness and response measures and shows that a pandemic will not wait for negotiations to be concluded.

Geneva Telegram for the July session of the General Council of the World Trade Organisation (WTO)

The ‘Geneva Telegram’ discusses current deliberations in the Geneva-based multilateral organisations, in this case the July meeting of the General Council of the WTO

The telegram covers the proceedings of the General Council meeting of 22-23 July 2024, chaired by Petter Ølberg (Norway).

Ministerialerklärung in der Verlängerung

Ergebnisse und Einschätzungen der 13. Ministerkonferenz der Welthandelsorganisation (WTO)

Die "Genfer Depesche" geht auf Vorgänge in den Genfer multilateralen Organisationen zu einem aktuellen Thema ein. Dieses Mal steht die 13. Ministerkonferenz der Welthandelsorganisation (WTO) im Fokus, die vom 26. Februar bis zum 01. März in Abu Dhabi, in den Vereinigten Arabischen Emiraten, stattfand.