Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in the Context of International Human Rights
By Carlos Correa and Daniel Uribe
This policy brief examines the growing recognition of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) within the framework of international human rights law. It traces the evolution of this consensus through key United Nations (UN) General Assembly and Human Rights Council resolutions, foundational documents like the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) Programme of Action and the Beijing Platform for Action, and the interpretative work of human rights treaty bodies. These instruments increasingly affirm that SRHR are an integral component of the right to health and are essential for gender equality. However, this brief also highlights the challenges these common efforts face in line with other views, which prioritise national sovereignty in determining policies on reproductive health. The analysis highlights the tension between the evolving international human rights framework and state-centric approaches, concluding with the imperative for ongoing dialogue to solidify and implement SRHR as universal, inalienable human rights.
Contribución del Centro Sur al Informe del Secretario General de las Naciones Unidas sobre la aplicación de la Resolución A/RES/79/7 de la Asamblea General sobre la “Necesidad de poner fin al bloqueo económico, comercial y financiero impuesto por los Estados Unidos de América contra Cuba”
Esta contribución del Centro Sur se presenta en respuesta a la solicitud del Secretario General como un aporte al informe del Secretario General de acuerdo a la resolución A/RES/79/7, con respecto a la imposición de medidas económicas, financieras y comerciales unilaterales por parte de los Estados Unidos de América, contra Cuba, en violación de los principios básicos de la Carta de las Naciones Unidas y el Derecho Internacional.
Leveraging the Antimicrobial Resistance Declarations of 2024 to Reduce the Burden of Drug-Resistant Infections
By Afreenish Amir & Viviana Munoz Tellez
In 2024, two significant events highlighted the global concern about antimicrobial resistance (AMR). AMR is a pressing global health issue, imperiling public health, economic stability, and societal well-being. The 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in its special session on AMR and the 4th Ministerial Meeting on AMR have emphasized the need for collective action and international cooperation to mitigate the impact of AMR. The UNGA Declaration has set some targets including reducing global deaths associated with bacterial AMR by 10% by 2030 and enhancing the antimicrobial usage from the World Health Organization (WHO) AWaRe (Access, Watch, Reserve) Access category to 70% by 2030. Accomplishing these targets requires enhancing the inter-ministerial and inter-sectoral collaboration within countries, and the development of strategies reflected in national action plans (NAPs) tailored to each country’s unique dynamics. There are several important commitments made that now need to be implemented, including increased support to countries to develop funded NAPs, the establishment of an Independent Panel on Evidence for Action against AMR, capacity building for local manufacturing of vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics and essential supplies, developing a new Global Action Plan on AMR by 2026 with a focus on a people centered approach, and advancing cross-sectoral behavioral change interventions. However, these fell short of ambition, particularly in key areas such as financing, reduction of misuse and overuse of antimicrobials in human and animal health and the environment as a vector for AMR. This Policy Brief reviews the new commitments on AMR made in 2024 under the light of current challenges in developing countries and advances recommendations to accelerate progress on AMR.
Statement of the South Centre to the High-Level Meeting on AMR
September 2024
The South Centre is committed to support developing countries in tackling antimicrobial resistance. We welcome the opportunity to speak to this Assembly and add our voice to the call for urgent action to tackle this global threat. This year must mark the turning point in the collective efforts backed by new commitments and targets.
The United Nations High-level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance on September 26, 2024: Uniting to Enable the Global Response to the Silent Pandemic
By Viviana Munoz Tellez
The “silent pandemic” of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is getting worse and requires a global response built on international cooperation and solidarity. On 26 September 2024, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly will hold a second High Level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance. The dedicated meeting is a new effort to bring urgent attention by leaders for increased action on the growing risk of untreatable infections becoming more widespread and of increasing mortality.
Catalyzing Policy Action to Address Antimicrobial Resistance: Next Steps for Global Governance
By Anthony D. So
The United Nations General Assembly has taken up Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) twice in the past decade, but the follow-through on commitments and financing of both Global and National Action Plans on AMR have lagged considerably behind the policymaker pronouncements. The need to update the intersectoral approach to the Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance requires urgent attention if measurable progress is to be made in tackling this One Health challenge. This paper identifies where progress must pick up and outlines how intersectoral action might catalyze needed next steps.
UNGA adopts first resolution on Artificial Intelligence
By Viviana Munoz Tellez
The United Nations recently approved a first resolution on Artificial Intelligence (AI). It contains a number of important principles and objectives that if achieved can help to leverage the potential of AI systems in all countries and control their risks. However, issues of critical importance for developing countries, such as bridging the digital divide in the use of AI, capacity building, ethics, bias and unfair data exploitation, are not adequately covered.
Contribución del Centro Sur al Informe del Secretario General de las Naciones Unidas sobre la aplicación de la Resolución A/RES/78/7 de la Asamblea General sobre la “Necesidad de poner fin al bloqueo económico, comercial y financiero impuesto por los Estados Unidos de América contra Cuba”
Esta contribución del Centro Sur se presenta en respuesta a la solicitud del Secretario General como un aporte al informe del Secretario General de acuerdo a la resolución A/RES/78/7, con respecto a la imposición de medidas económicas, financieras y comerciales unilaterales por parte de los Estados Unidos de América, contra Cuba, en violación de los principios básicos de la Carta de las Naciones Unidas.
The United Nations Intergovernmental Process – An Opportunity for a Paradigm Shift
By Kuldeep Sharma and Raunicka Sharma
Efforts are underway to strengthen the inclusiveness and effectiveness of international tax cooperation so that the current tax structures consider the equitable interests of developing countries. This is necessitated as a section of developing countries has lost confidence in the OECD and there is a lingering doubt whether OECD has developing countries’ best and equitable interests in mind. As a result, the United Nations General Assembly has launched intergovernmental talks to enhance international tax cooperation and draft a UN Tax Convention that aims to establish inclusive norms for transparency and tax cooperation, that leads to development of an acceptable and frictionless worldwide tax policy.
Summary of the intervention by Carlos Correa, Executive Director of the South Centre,at the UN General Assembly – Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response Multi-Stakeholder Hearing, New York, May 9th, 2023
The response to COVID-19 revealed serious shortcomings in the multilateral system. Despite solemn declarations, it was unable to ensure equity in addressing its health, economic and social impacts. See a summary of the South Centre’s intervention at the UN General Assembly – Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response Multi-Stakeholder Hearing below.
Contribución del Centro Sur al Informe del Secretario General sobre la aplicación de la Resolución A/RES/77/7 de la Asamblea General de la ONU sobre la “Necesidad de poner fin al bloqueo económico, comercial y financiero impuesto por los Estados Unidos de América contra Cuba”
Esta aportación del Centro Sur se presenta en respuesta a la solicitud del Secretario General como contribución al informe del Secretario General de acuerdo a la resolución A/RES/77/7, con respecto a la imposición de medidas económicas, financieras y comerciales unilaterales por parte de los Estados Unidos de América, contra Cuba, en violación de los principios básicos de la Carta de las Naciones Unidas.
Contribution of the South Centre to the Report of the Secretary-General on the Implementation of UN General Assembly Resolution A/75/L.97 dated 9 June 2021 on the “Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba”
This input by the South Centre is prepared in response to the UN Secretary-General’s request as a contribution to the report of the Secretary-General as per resolution A/75/L.97, with respect to the imposition of unilateral economic, financial and trade measures against Cuba, in violation of basic principles of the UN Charter.
