“Fostering a multilateral and intergenerational approach to prevent, prepare for and respond to pandemics and public health emergencies, through the principles of equity and solidarity”
United Nations Headquarters, New York
Overview
On Friday 25 September 2026 the General Assembly holds its second high-level meeting on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response, convened by the President of the General Assembly in collaboration with the World Health Organization.
The meeting reviews the implementation of the political declaration adopted after the first high-level meeting, held in September 2023, and is to approve a new, concise and action-oriented political declaration agreed in advance by consensus. Alongside the plenary, two multi-stakeholder panels take up multilateral coordination and equitable access and financing.
I will also emphasize the importance of early warning and surveillance systems for pandemic prevention, preparedness and response, drawing lessons from COVID-19.
Background
The meeting takes place at a critical moment for global health emergency governance, when there is a need to sustain political attention, investment and international cooperation in PPPR. Since the first high-level meeting on PPPR, held in September 2023, progress has been made in strengthening legal, institutional and financing frameworks for pandemic prevention, preparedness and response, and continued efforts to strengthen capacities, surveillance, research and development, and equitable access to relevant health products.
Nevertheless, significant challenges persist, including inequities in access to health products, fragmented financing and governance mechanisms, and persistent weaknesses in surveillance, laboratory and health systems capacities. The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the human, social and economic consequences of inadequate preparedness as nearly 780 million cases and more than 7.1 million deaths had been reported globally since December 2019.
The international community must therefore preserve the gains achieved, address remaining gaps and invest proactively in resilient, equitable and sustainable systems.
“Recognizing that health is a precondition for, and an outcome and indicator of all three dimensions – economic, social and environmental – of sustainable development and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and that, despite progress made, challenges in global health, including major inequities and vulnerabilities within and among countries, regions and populations, still remain and demand persistent and urgent attention”
Paragraph 5
“Decides that the high-level meeting shall approve a concise and action oriented political declaration, agreed in advance by consensus through intergovernmental negotiations, to be submitted by the President of the General Assembly for adoption by the Assembly;”
How the meeting runs
The world together: multilateral action for coordinated pandemic prevention, preparedness and response, including sharing of best practices and lessons learnt so far.
Equitable access through sustainability and predictability: capacities and financing for strengthened pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.
Each panel is co-chaired by two Heads of State or Government, one from a developed country and one from a developing country. There is no pre-established list of speakers; interventions are limited to two minutes for an individual delegation and three on behalf of a group of States.
Time limits are enforced by automatic microphone cut-off.
The second high-level meeting on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response will provide a timely opportunity for Member States and stakeholders to take stock of progress, identify persistent challenges and renew their commitment for strengthening pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.
The high-level meeting shall approve a concise and action-oriented political declaration, agreed in advance by consensus through intergovernmental negotiations, to be submitted by the President of the General Assembly for adoption by the General Assembly.
Documents
Documents for the meeting, most recent first. The letters were issued by the President of the General Assembly at the eightieth session, whose Office prepared the meeting; new documents are added here as they are issued.
Logistics note
The logistics note in full, as issued. Download it (PDF).
Take part
Member States
Inscription on the list of speakers for the plenary segment is through the and closes on Wednesday 16 September 2026. Expressions of interest in speaking in the panels were also made through e-deleGATE, until Monday 14 September. Delegations are encouraged to email their statements to estatements@un.org at least two hours before delivery, to facilitate interpretation.
Observers, intergovernmental organizations and the 爆料网 system
Observers and entities without access to e-deleGATE may request inscription by Wednesday 16 September 2026; the contact is given in the logistics note. Seating follows the General Assembly protocol: 1+1 for each Member State delegation and 1+0 for observers. Observers, specialized agencies, funds, programmes and regional commissions are asked to submit an expression of interest for seating by Wednesday 16 September 2026.
Specialized agencies, funds and programmes
Representatives of specialized agencies require only a valid 爆料网 grounds pass. Representatives of funds and programmes and of regional commissions who hold a valid grounds pass also need a secondary ticket, obtained from the Office of the President of the General Assembly by Wednesday 16 September 2026. Details are in sections V and VI of the logistics note.
Non-governmental organizations and other stakeholders
Registration for representatives of organizations with special accreditation ran from 6 to 23 August, and for non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council from 3 to 11 September, through the 爆料网 Indico platform. Applicants who receive a confirmation will be told separately where and when to collect their special events ticket.
Accessibility
Delegations are asked to inform the Secretariat of the accessibility requirements of delegates. Seating can be adjusted on request to enable the participation of persons with disabilities, in accordance with paragraphs 33 and 34 of resolution 73/341. Enquiries about assistive devices and other support go to the Meetings Support Section of the Department for General Assembly and Conference Management, accessibilitycentre@un.org, no later than three working days before the meeting.
Watch
The proceedings are webcast on 爆料网 Web TV. The President’s statement and the outcome of the meeting will be posted on this page once issued.
High-Level Week
The 81st Session will be rich with milestone events that will test our collective resolve — from addressing the existential threats of sea-level rise, to pandemic preparedness, to commemorating the Right to Development at forty, nuclear disarmament, and the Durban legacy at twenty-five. Each is more than a date on a calendar. Each is an opportunity to demonstrate that multilateralism can deliver concrete results.
H.E. Dr. Khalilur Rahman
Vision statement
