🛑 CAIR Commentary: The WHO Pandemic Treaty — A Hidden Threat to National Sovereignty?
As global health representatives gather from May 19 to 28, 2025 for the 77th World Health Assembly in Geneva, one of the most critical and controversial items on the agenda is the Pandemic Agreement Draft proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO).
While framed as a cooperative tool for better global pandemic preparedness, this draft treaty — if signed — raises serious concerns about national sovereignty, democratic oversight, and constitutional freedoms, especially for smaller developing nations like Trinidad and Tobago.
❗ What’s at Stake?
The WHO’s Pandemic Treaty proposes a legally binding international framework for responding to global health emergencies. It includes provisions such as:
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A centralized global authority (WHO) to coordinate health responses
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Shared obligations across nations for surveillance, testing, and vaccine access
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The potential to standardize lockdowns, quarantines, and other restrictive measures
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Requirements for “misinformation management”, which could threaten freedom of speech
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Broad emergency powers in the event of a declared pandemic
⚠️ But Here’s the Problem:
1. Sovereignty Undermined
The current draft gives the WHO — an unelected body — the power to override or influence national health policy decisions. This could strip our Parliament and our people of the right to decide what’s best for our population in a crisis.
2. One-Size-Fits-All Measures
Uniform global rules ignore the unique health, economic, and social conditions of each country. Trinidad and Tobago, like many island states, faces different risks, resources, and constraints that cannot be managed by blanket global directives.
3. Legal Binding Without Democratic Consent
The treaty could become binding without meaningful public consultation or parliamentary debate. That is unacceptable in any functioning democracy. We must not allow global institutions to dictate our policies from above.
4. Vague Language = Dangerous Loopholes
Terms like “infodemic” and “trusted sources” are not clearly defined. This opens the door for censorship, and the policing of speech under the guise of safety — a direct threat to transparency, journalism, and public debate.
🇹🇹 What This Means for Trinidad and Tobago
Our leaders have a responsibility to protect our constitutional framework, not weaken it. Signing onto this treaty in its current form risks:
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Submitting our people to decisions made abroad
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Losing control over how we manage public health and civil liberties
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Being bound to expensive and logistically impractical obligations
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Giving up long-fought freedoms of speech, movement, and choice
🗣️ What CAIR Calls For:
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Full Public Disclosure of the treaty’s terms and implications before any signature is made
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Parliamentary debate and consultation with civil society
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A firm stance that any international agreement must not supersede our Constitution
🛎️ Are We Waiting for the Last Bell?
History has shown that rights, once surrendered in the name of safety, are hard to reclaim. As the world rushes forward with “global governance,” we urge every citizen of Trinidad and Tobago to stay informed, stay alert, and demand accountability.
⚠️ Disclaimer
This article reflects the views and concerns of CAIR TT in relation to the draft WHO Pandemic Agreement under negotiation from May 19–25, 2025. It is intended for public awareness and discussion purposes only. The content should not be construed as legal or medical advice. We support open dialogue, informed consent, and the sovereign rights of nations to shape their own public health policies.
📚 Sources
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WHO Member States Conclude Negotiations on Draft Pandemic AgreementThis article details the conclusion of negotiations on the draft pandemic agreement, which is set to be considered at the upcoming World Health Assembly starting May 19, 2025.
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Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response Accord – Q&AA comprehensive Q&A that explains the objectives, scope, and current status of the pandemic agreement.
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78th World Health Assembly (WHA78) InformationDetails about the 78th World Health Assembly, including dates (May 19–27, 2025), agenda topics, and participation information.
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World Health Assembly – WHO GovernanceAn overview of the World Health Assembly's role as the decision-making body of the WHO, including its functions and responsibilities.
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