Final round of pandemic treaty talks end without draft agreement
Negotiators had to juggle the promotion of health access and global equity with reaffirmation of nations' sovereignty.
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Negotiators had to juggle the promotion of health access and global equity with reaffirmation of nations' sovereignty.
Non-veto wielding nations have tried for years to reform the U.N.'s post-World War II power structure with little success.
Prompted by its own paralysis over Syria and Ukraine, the U.N. moved to prevent abuse of power by Russia and other permanent Security Council members.
A two-shot vaccine from BioNTech and Pfizer gained official approval in the E.U., two days after Switzerland approved it through a normal procedure.
The U.N. General Assembly urged all nations to join in ensuring universal access to medical supplies, drugs, future vaccines and testing for the pandemic.
The treaty, which took effect in 2014, builds on efforts to protect women and girls from violence since the 1990s. Some nations say they oppose it based on sovereignty concerns.
The European Union and eight other nations condemned Saudi Arabia, demanding that it cooperate with a U.N.-led investigation into Jamal Khashoggi's brazen murder.
Even in a country with a tradition of hosting international organizations, one-third of all voters preferred to put the promise of "Swiss law first" ahead of global cooperation.
The E.U.'s new rules emphasize accountability: Data handlers must demonstrate compliance and delete data if asked.