Today, @MaEllenSirleaf and @HelenClarkNZ wrote an open letter to leaders responsible for the pandemic Political Declaration under negotiation at the #UNGA.

They expressed concern that the opportunity presented was being squandered.

🧵 of text follows. We write, with bluntness and urgency, as we are gravely concerned that the opportunity presented by the High-Level Meeting and the expected Political Declaration on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response is being squandered.

As countries face the #Omicron variant @TheIndPanel's @BMJ_latest series of 9 articles shows how, why, & where the🌎 & countries succeeded or failed during the 1st year of #covid19 & points to real-time solutions that can end this pandemic.
👉🏽 bit.ly/3cUId9d 🧵 .@TheIndPanel Co-Chairs, @HelenClarkNZ & @MaEllenSirleaf lead: "Rather than allowing geopolitical posturing to stall progress, the world needs leaders to come together... & convene a special session of the UNGA to commit to transforming the 🌎system."
bit.ly/3eqlwe9

.@HelenClarkNZ: "this pandemic has shown the importance of multilateralism, global leadership, and whole-of-society and whole-of-government approaches.

The international system needs to work as a coherent and effective system – and it must also work across sectors and silos." The pandemic is not only a health crisis; it is also a social economic, political, and peace and security crisis.

We propose that a negotiated political declaration be adopted by the UNGA, setting out the road map for a stronger international system for the future.