Witness Testimony

James Corbett, an independent journalist and founder of The Corbett Report, testified regarding two parallel processes underway at the World Health Organization: the drafting of a proposed pandemic agreement and amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR). He stated that the proposed agreement, though not formally labeled a treaty, could expand WHO authority over pandemic declarations, surveillance systems, and member-state obligations. He described concerns about closed-door negotiations, undefined key terms such as “One Health,” and provisions addressing misinformation, as well as proposals to shift WHO recommendations from non-binding to binding in certain circumstances.
Corbett explained the history and function of the IHR, including the Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) mechanism, and outlined proposed amendments that he said would broaden WHO authority, potentially alter human rights language, and introduce additional alert categories below a PHEIC threshold. He testified that these changes could increase centralized decision-making power within the WHO Director-General’s office and expand surveillance and digital health certification systems. He also referenced past PHEIC declarations and contractual vaccine procurement obligations as context for potential future implications.
In discussing the broader “One Health” framework, Corbett characterized it as an integrated approach linking human, animal, and environmental health, involving coordination among multiple UN agencies. He expressed concern that this model could justify expanded regulatory authority across areas such as food systems, environmental policy, and public health governance. He concluded by advocating for decentralized governance, national sovereignty in health decision-making, and the primacy of individual bodily autonomy, while stating that international agreements ultimately rely on member-state consent and political will.