Instruments for Global Health Diplomacy in the UN System Beyond the WHO

Abstract

This chapter explores the practice of health diplomacy in four forums of the United Nations (UN): the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, and the Human Rights Council. Although health is not central to their mandate, over the past decade, Member States have placed health on these institutions’ agendas. The increasing amount of health diplomacy in these UN forums reflects the incorporation of global health objectives into the foreign policy goals of Member States and the recognition that diplomatic action in multiple forums is critical for the achievement of global health goals. Health diplomacy has created new global health norms, established new health institutions (UNAIDS), and obliged states to report on their fulfillment of global health commitments. For each forum, we describe how Member States utilize these institutions to address global health challenges.