Mr President:
We are living at a pivotal moment. Multilateralism and its institutions are under direct attack. The United States has withdrawn from the World Health Organization, undermining international efforts to guarantee health and save lives.
That country and other developed nations are increasing their military spending while rapidly cutting official development assistance. As a result of these cuts, developing countries have fewer resources, greater difficulties in accessing health technologies, and increased vulnerability to emergencies.
In this context, we not only have the responsibility to protect the WHO, but also to strengthen it as a technical and normative intergovernmental authority.
Reform in the context of the UN80 Initiative cannot result in a mere fiscal adjustment exercise that compromises the operational capacity of the WHO and ignores existing structural asymmetries.
The objective must be to establish a more equitable, inclusive, and better-coordinated global health architecture, with sufficient, sustainable, and predictable financing, including at the regional level.
Limited available resources must be concentrated where they are most needed. Programs cannot be subject to the whims of those responsible for providing the bulk of the funding.
Proposals to merge UNFPA with UN Women, or to phase out UNAIDS, have direct implications for essential programs and require thorough analysis and broad consultations.
The reform process must be transparent and inclusive. Member States must not only be properly informed and timely consulted on the design and implementation of the process; they must lead it and take the main decisions.
I Thank you.