WHO at sea: Maritime dimensions of the proposed pandemic treaty and changes to the International Health Regulations 2005

Abstract

The World Health Organization (WHO) is currently debating two major initiatives: amendments to the International Health Regulations of 2005 and the negotiation of a new pandemic treaty. Both are aimed at revising the international legal framework for pandemic response by drawing lessons from the experiences of COVID-19. This article provides the first examination of the implications of these proposed changes specifically for maritime-related concerns that emerged during the pandemic. We discuss the international laws relevant to maritime activities during the COVID-19 pandemic and explore how the envisaged changes to the existing legal framework address the maritime dimensions of pandemic response. This article argues for the inclusion of maritime issues in the ongoing WHO negotiations and emphasizes three critical changes that should be considered: expanding the rules on port access, defining state responsibilities for the treatment of cruise ships, and enhancing human rights protection at sea during pandemics. The WHO and its member states should take this opportunity to draw lessons from the maritime experiences of COVID-19 and prepare for future pandemics with an effective response both on land and at sea.