By Asmau Ahmad
The President of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), Munir Akram said equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines will represent an ‘acid test’ for the international community.
He was speaking to journalists highlighting the importance of global cooperation and solidarity in beating back the disease.
Speaking during a virtual press briefing, ECOSOC President Munir Akram also outlined objectives for the coming year, including plans for a facility to support infrastructure investment in developing countries, and forums to examine issues critical to recovery and achieving sustainable development.
Mr. Akram, who is Pakistan’s Ambassador to the UN, stressed that COVID-19 vaccines must be viewed as ‘a global public good’ and must be made accessible to everyone, everywhere.
A UN statement said Mr Akram highlighted the groundbreaking international collaboration working to achieve this goal, known as the COVAX Facility, but stated it ultimately was a question of political will whether the entire global population will receive vaccines.
“It is up to governments to be able to decide that they will allocate a portion of the vaccine production for other countries: for developing countries, for the vulnerable in developing countries.
“This will be an acid test, and certainly we as developing countries, as international actors here at the United Nations, we must press for this equity, he said.”
ECOSOC is one of the UN’s six main organs and promotes peace through international economic cooperation.
The statement said Mr. Akram detailed how the pandemic is having deep impacts globally, but especially in the world’s poorest countries, meaning the international community must fight both the virus and its consequences.
He said this calls for an emergency response to mobilise financing for poorer nations, and to support the COVAX Facility and the Secretary-General’s Global Humanitarian Response Plan, both of which are facing significant funding shortfalls.
