Consortium of Universities for Global Health Conference
Satellite Session on Pandemic Prevention
April 13, 2023
Washington Hilton Hotel, Washington, DC
Phoenix Zones Initiative collaborated on an important in-person Satellite session about pandemic prevention for the Consortium of Universities for Global Health (CUGH) Conference in Washington, DC.
From Science to Policy: How the Pandemic Instrument Can Prevent Pandemics and Enable Equity assessed how a justice-focused pandemic prevention treaty can address current gaps in international policy and effectively address the root causes of pandemic risk.
Panelists included
- Prof./Dr. Hope Ferdowsian, Phoenix Zones Initiative; University of New Mexico School of Medicine
- Dr. Daniel Battaglia, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (video statement)
- Nicoletta Dentico, Society for International Development
- Prof. Sam Halabi, Georgetown University
- Nina Jamal, MSc, FOUR PAWS International
- Dr. Syd Johnson, Upstate Medical University
- Dr. Ann Linder, Harvard Law School
- Dr. Catherine Machalaba, One Health High-Level Expert Panel and EcoHealth Alliance
- John Scanlon AO, End Wildlife Crime (video statement)
- Dr. Chris Walzer, Wildlife Conservation Society
- Dr. Chadia Wannous, World Organisation for Animal Health (video statement)
The session’s objectives included
- assessing how the pandemic instrument can bridge gaps in global policy
- identifying essentials of the pandemic instrument
- expanding on the science and evidence-driven policy measures that would create an effective pathway to prevent pandemics.
The findings will be collated into a conference paper.
Nearly three-quarters of emerging infectious diseases stem from human exploitation of other animals and our shared environment.
Increased contact between humans and other animals—such as through deforestation, biodiversity loss, animal trafficking and farming, and the climate crisis—significantly increase the risk of future pandemics.
A prevention- and justice-centered pandemic prevention treaty that advances the rights, health, and wellbeing of people, animals, and the planet—and that moves beyond the exploitation of animals and the natural world—is a vital tool in reducing pandemic risk and in creating a world in which everyone can thrive.
This Satellite session was hosted by FOUR PAWS International, in collaboration with Phoenix Zones Initiative, and Born Free, End Wildlife Crime, the Wildlife Conservation Society, World Animal Protection, and the World Federation for Animals.
Download a flyer about the event from FOUR PAWS.
Find out more about the general CUGH Conference.
Find out more about why we need a justice-centered pandemic prevention treaty.
Sign PZI’s open letter calling for the WHO to adopt a justice-centered pandemic prevention treaty.