24 September 2026
Ebola shows us exactly why pandemic readiness cannot wait
New York: As Member States gather this Friday, September 25, for the second UN High-Level Meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response (PPPR), Friends of the PPPR HLM* urge them to set the stage to adopt the Political Declaration.
Member States have spent months negotiating the declaration. As the main focus and outcome of the meeting, it lays a foundation for collective commitments and action in the years ahead. Adopting it sends a strong signal of political commitment that recognises tackling pandemic threats requires collective action in the common interest.
In a decade in which COVID-19 caused at least 22 million excess deaths, and in a year in which the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak on record has killed some 3,600 people and infected 7,600, such commitment is both a public health and a moral imperative.
The Friends of the PPPR HLM again call on Member States to uphold the promise of “never again.” Use the opportunity of the High-Level Meeting to express full support to the Political Declaration and make measurable commitments to ensure that COVID-19 is the last devastating pandemic.
“This Political Declaration should be considered the floor, and not the ceiling of what needs to be done to make the world safer from pandemic threats, not the least of which is the conclusion, ratification and implementation of the WHO Pandemic Agreement.” said Helen Clark, Co-Chair of The Independent Panel, Member of The Elders, and Co-convenor of Friends of the PPPR HLM.
“So this Friday, we say: Member States – demonstrate your full-throated support to make the world safer. Given inevitable pandemic threats, how could you choose any other path?”
Editors Notes: Traditionally, a Political Declaration negotiated for a High-Level Meeting is tabled in the opening session by the President of the General Assembly. UN Member States then agree to endorse the pre-negotiated Declaration for formal adoption at a regular meeting of the Assembly. Instead, this meeting will ‘consider’ the outcome document only in the closing session of the meeting.
* About the Friends of the PPPR HLM: Friends of the PPPR HLM is an informal, time-limited platform for organisations working to support progress in pandemic PPR and specifically working to secure a strong political declaration from the 2026 HLM that contains measurable commitments. It is co-convened by The Elders, FOUR PAWS, The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response, and Resilience Action Network International (rani).
For information contact: Secretariat@IndependentPanel.org