In a resolution, the 193 UN member states called for „equal“ access to future vaccines against the novel coronavirus. In future, medicines and vaccines against the virus should be made available to all countries in need in a „fair, transparent, equal and efficient“ form. That applies particularly to developing countries.
The resolution was passed unanimously by the UN General Assembly in New York yesterday. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appealed to the General Assembly to make arrangements for a fair worldwide distribution of preventive agents, tests and future medicines and serums in the fight against the pandemic.
The resolution also highlights the “crucial role” of the World Health Organization (WHO) in the fight against coronavirus. In the past few days, US President Donald Trump had blamed the UN sub-organization for severe “mismanagement” and one-sidedness in favor of China and announced that US payments would stop. Nevertheless, the current resolution was also supported by the United States. It had been brought in by Mexico. In contrast to those of the UN Security Council, resolutions of the General Assembly are not binding under international law.
