Explanation of Vote following adoption of the Political Declaration on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response

New Zealand thanks the Permanent Representatives of Armenia and Rwanda, and their teams, for their efforts in presenting this Political Declaration.

New Zealand supports the aim of strengthening global health systems and improving pandemic preparedness and response.

Today, New Zealand abstained on the adoption of the Political Declaration on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response.

New Zealand wishes to register its position on paragraph 1 that welcomes the adoption of the Pandemic Agreement and 2024 amendments to the International Health Regulations. It is very important to New Zealand that its sovereign decision making on health is protected.

New Zealand does not support language welcoming the adoption of the Pandemic Agreement. As New Zealand noted at the time of the adoption of the Pandemic Agreement by the World Health Assembly, any future decision on whether or not to sign and ratify the Pandemic Agreement will be informed by a full National Interest Test under domestic procedures.

New Zealand has also rejected the 2024 amendments to the International Health Regulations 2005 as New Zealand is not currently in a position to accept them.

My delegation kindly requests that this statement be included in the meeting record.

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