This written declaration does not reflect the position of the Assembly; only of those members that have signed it. It will not be considered further by the Assembly.
We, the undersigned, declare the following:
We deeply regret the decision taken in 2016 by the World Health
Assembly (WHA) – the World Health Organization’s steering body –
to revoke the Observer status of Taiwan with the WHA. Until then,
Taiwan has been fulfilling this status to everyone’s general satisfaction
for nearly a decade.
The loss of Taiwan’s contribution as an observer to the WHO/WHA’s
work in fighting against future pandemics such as Covid-19 – and
against global public health threats in general – is all the more
regrettable, seeing the WHO/WHA’s inclusive approach to international
health co-operation; Taiwan’s outstanding reputation as an advanced,
engaged, highly capable and responsible member of the global health
community; and its position as a pivotal international transport
and travel hub.
We therefore call on the member States of the Council of Europe
to work to restore Taiwan’s Observer status as early as possible,
and ideally already on the occasion of the WHA’s Annual Conference
in Geneva, to be held from 21 to 30 May 2023.
