A/RES/74/307 GA

United Nations A/RES/74/307 General Assembly Distr.: General 15 September 2020 20-11864 (E) 160920 *2011864* Seventy-fourth session Agenda item 123 Strengthening of the United Nations system Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 11 September 2020 [without reference to a Main Committee (A/74/L.57 and A/74/L.57/Add.1)] 74/307. United response against global health threats: combating COVID-19 The General Assembly, Expressing grave concern and deep sadness at the global crisis triggered by the novel disease COVID-19 pandemic and its unprecedented negative health, economic and social impacts on the international community, Acknowledging that the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic is a powerful reminder of our interconnectedness and vulnerabilities, as the virus respects no borders, and that combating this pandemic calls for an open, transparent, robust, coordinated, large-scale, science-based and inclusive global response in the spirit of solidarity, Noting the importance of utilizing all available policy tools to safeguard the global economy, financial markets, trade and global supply chains in order to minimize the economic damage from the pandemic, restore global growth and maintain market stability, Recognizing the essential role of the United Nations as the body that can effectively bring together a global response to control and contain the spread of COVID-19 and address the critical interlinkages between health, trade, finance and economic and social development, and acknowledging that the disease will negatively impact endeavours aimed at achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, Recognizing also the great effort undertaken by people around the world to follow the measures recommended by the World Health Organization and national authorities in order to control and fight the spread of the pandemic, Expressing deep concern about the serious risks posed to all countries, in particular developing and least developed countries, and notably African countries and small island developing States, where health systems and economies may be less A/RES/74/307 United response against global health threats: combating COVID-19 20-11864 2/3 able to cope with the challenge, as well as the particular risk faced by refugees and displaced persons, Commending the United Nations for its recommitment to the timely implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development 1 and its determination to lead a recovery that is inclusive and sustainable, Emphasizing the urgent need for initiatives, on a voluntary basis, that focus on preventing threats from emerging pandemics and on building an effective global defence against outbreaks of deadly infectious diseases should such threats emerge, Welcoming the initiative taken by the Secretary-General, noting the initiatives by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group, and acknowledging the role of the World Health Organization, Recalling the high-level meeting on universal health coverage, held in New York on 23 September 2019, and reaffirming its political declaration, entitled “Universal health coverage: moving together to build a healthier world” 2 as a means of strengthening health systems, and recalling also its resolution 74/270 of 2 April 2020, entitled “Global solidarity to fight the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)”, Expressing profound gratitude to all front-line health-care workers as the fight against the pandemic continues, and emphasizing the importance of providing them with the necessary protection and support, Welcoming the outcomes of the virtual Extraordinary Summit of the Group of 20, chaired by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, President of the Group for 2020, on 26 March 2020, and the call therein for effective and coordinated action to fight this global health crisis, 1. Calls for intensified international cooperation and multilateral efforts in handling disease outbreaks, including by sharing timely, accurate and transparent information, exchanging epidemiological and clinical data, sharing materials necessary for research and development, and implementing the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005)3 and relevant guidance; 2. Emphasizes the need for the United Nations system, as well as relevant regional and international organizations and financial institutions, to collaborate in order to ensure that the adverse social, economic, humanitarian and financial impacts of COVID-19 are addressed in a timely and non-discriminatory manner; 3. Also emphasizes the need for full respect for human rights, and stresses further that there is no place for any form of discrimination, racism and xenophobia in the response to the pandemic; 4. Stresses the necessity of urgent short-term actions to step up the global efforts to fight global health crises and pandemics and maintain economic stability, including by taking the following steps: (a) Swift delivery of medical supplies, especially diagnostic tools, treatments, medicines and vaccines; (b) Increasing research and development funding for vaccines and medicines, leveraging digital technologies and strengthening scientific international cooperation; __________________ 1 Resolution 70/1. 2 Resolution 74/2. 3 World Health Organization, document WHA58/2005/REC/1, resolution 58.3, annex. United response against global health threats: combating COVID-19 A/RES/74/307 3/3 20-11864 (c) Expanding manufacturing capacity to meet the increasing needs for medical supplies and ensuring that these are made widely available, at an affordable price, on an equitable basis, where they are most needed and as quickly as possible; (d) Engaging with the front-line international organizations, notably the United Nations, the World Health Organization, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank Group and multilateral and regional development banks, to deploy robust, coherent, coordinated and rapid financial packages to strengthen global financial safety nets; 5. Reaffirms the necessity to support economies, protect workers, businesses, especially micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises, and the sectors most affected, and shield the vulnerable through adequate social protection, and in this context welcomes the statement by the leaders of the Group of 20 on injecting 5 trillion United States dollars into the global economy, as part of targeted fiscal policy, economic measures and guarantee schemes to counteract the social, economic and financial impacts of the pandemic; 6. Calls upon the international community, regional and international organizations and relevant stakeholders to give high priority to people, particularly the elderly, women and girls, displaced persons and refugees and persons with disabilities, and areas that are most vulnerable, particularly developing and least developed countries, in order to mitigate any drawback towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, and highlights the need to address risks of debt vulnerabilities in developing countries, including least developed countries, landlocked developing countries, small island developing States and African countries, as well as middle-income countries, due to the pandemic; 7. Calls upon Member States to enhance coordination on public health and financial measures as well as cooperation at the national, regional and international levels to confront and combat this pandemic; 8. Stresses the need to give appropriate consideration to the issue of halting and reversing the global threats posed by epidemics through the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development;1 9. Urges Member States, in conjunction with the United Nations, the World Health Organization, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank Group and other regional and international organizations, working within their existing mandates, to embark on sustainable pandemic preparedness, response and recovery planning, taking into account strengthening the capacity of health sector institutions in developing countries; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to mobilize the United Nations system in support of global action towards sustainable recovery, including through the work of the United Nations resident coordinators and United Nations country teams, especially in the most vulnerable countries; 11. Decides to remain seized of the matter, and requests the Secretary-General to coordinate and follow up on the various relevant initiatives and to report to the General Assembly on the implementation of the present resolution in a timely manner. 64th plenary meeting 11 September 2020

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