Russia is expected to participate in the upcoming 75th World Health Assembly, an annual event where member states of the World Health Organization discuss and decide on a range of health issues.
“Yes, they are allowed to participate,” Steven Solomon, WHO’s principal legal officer, said during a media briefing Monday.
The 75th WHA, which opens on May 22, will be taking place amid the ongoing Russian war in Ukraine, where WHO has confirmed over 200 attacks on health care. On May 10, member states of the WHO European region took a vote that led to the adoption of a resolution condemning Russia’s aggression in the country.
That resolution included a call to WHO to explore the possible relocation of its regional Office for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases outside Russia, as well as to consider the temporary suspension of all regional meetings in Russia.
The resolution also requests for an assessment of the health emergency situation in Ukraine, and “of consequential international health risks” as part of a report on WHO’s work in health emergencies during the 75th WHA.
“So we can expect that there will be this report as requested by the Regional Committee … on Tuesday [May 24], and at that meeting member states may be considering any action that they deem appropriate, which means they may consider a decision or resolution on this subject,” Solomon said.
About the author
Jenny Lei Ravelo@JennyLeiRavelo
Jenny Lei Ravelo is a Devex Senior Reporter based in Manila. She covers global health, with a particular focus on the World Health Organization, and other development and humanitarian aid trends in Asia Pacific. Prior to Devex, she wrote for ABS-CBN, one of the largest broadcasting networks in the Philippines, and was a copy editor for various international scientific journals. She received her journalism degree from the University of Santo Tomas.
