[e-drug] WHO IGWG 2nd session April 2008 possible NGO participation

[e-drug@healthnet.org]

E-DRUG: WHO IGWG 2nd session April 2008 possible NGO participation
-----------------------------------------------------------
[Important information for NGOs interested to discuss access to medicines &
intellectual property rights at the next IGWG conference in WHO Geneva,
April 2008. WB]

From: WHO Druginformation [mailto:DRUGINFORMATION@who.int] 

WHO IGWG 2nd session scheduled for April 2008: possibility of NGO
participation 

WHO continues to welcome interest in the abovementioned subject and wishes
to inform interested parties of the following: 

In its decision EB120(3), the WHO Executive Board agreed to adopt certain
measures for facilitating the participation of NGOs in the work of the
Intergovernmental Working Group on Public Health, Innovation and
Intellectual Property. The decision is below.

Among the conditions set out in decision EB120(3)is that nongovernmental
organizations must be in working relations with WHO.  Such relations are
characterized, inter alia, by an exchange of letters agreeing to joint
activities over a fixed time period.  Each party identifies focal points for
such relations.  Normally such letters are also signed by a representative
of the Government Agencies, Civil Society and Private Sector Relations (GPR)
department in WHO that, inter alia, administers the implementation of the
Principles governing relations between WHO and NGOs, including the
application process. The Principles are available at
http://www.who.int/civilsociety/relations/principles/en/index.html.

International NGOs that have an agreed joint work plan with WHO and consider
they would meet the criteria for admission into official relations set out
in the abovementioned Principles may wish to request an assessment of their
relations.  

Requests should contain:

- a copy of the current mutually agreed joint work plan noting the name(s) of the focal points both in the NGO and WHO 
- a copy of the NGO's constitution, or equivalent document 
- a copy of the NGO's membership lists or, if not a membership organization, a list of the governing body members with their names and affiliations
- a copy of the NGO's annual reports for the past three years and financial accounts 

The request and all related documentation, except the annual reports, should
be in English or French.  The request, addressed to The Director, PUN, may
either be sent electronically to civilsociety@who.int or by mail to the
following address:  WHO/PUN, 20 Ave Appia, CH-1211, Geneva, 27. It will not
be possible to process requests received after 22 February 2008.

EB120(3) Measures to be taken for facilitating the participation of
nongovernmental organizations in the work of the Intergovernmental Working
Group on Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property

The Executive Board, having considered the recommendation of the
Intergovernmental Working Group on Public Health, Innovation and
Intellectual Property (at
http://www.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/EB120/B120_35_Add1-en.pdf) 
and the
report of the Standing Committee on Nongovernmental Organizations (at
http://www.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/EB120/B120_41-en.pdf), 
authorized the Chairman of the Executive Board, acting jointly with the Chairman of the
Standing Committee, to admit provisionally nongovernmental organizations
into official relations with WHO.  The facility established by the present
decision will apply to nongovernmental organizations that request official
relations solely, or also, for the purpose of participating in the work of
the IGWG, subject to the following conditions and requirements:

(1)     nongovernmental organizations must be in working relations with WHO
at the time of submission of their application, so that approximately two
years of working relations will have elapsed by the time the Executive Board
formally reviews their applications under point (3) below, and must
otherwise meet the criteria established in section 3 of the Principles
Governing Relations between the World Health Organization and
Nongovernmental Organizations
(http://www.who.int/civilsociety/relations/principles/en/index.html);

(2)     the mandates of the nongovernmental organizations concerned must be
relevant to the work of the Intergovernmental Working Group;

(3)     the Executive Board will review nongovernmental organizations in
provisional official relations at its January session subsequent to their
admission into provisional official relations, for the purpose of confirming
or terminating such relations in accordance with normal procedures.

This decision will remain applicable, unless terminated or revised by the
Board, until the completion of the work of the  Intergovernmental Working
Group on Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property. 

[Submitted by Christine Encranaz, WHO Drug Information]