U.N. Human Rights Council calls for fair, affordable access to COVID-19 vaccines

Top U.N. rights body calls for fair, affordable access to COVID-19 vaccines The United Nations Human Rights Council adopted a resolution on Tuesday calling for equitable, affordable access to COVID-19 vaccines and fair pricing. Stephanie Nebehay U.S.

GENEVA (Reuters) - The United Nations Human Rights Council adopted a resolution on Tuesday calling for equitable, affordable access to COVID-19 vaccines and fair pricing.

The text, endorsed by more than 130 countries and adopted by consensus at the Geneva forum, affirmed the right of states to use the flexibility in existing World Trade Organization (WTO) rules on intellectual property for COVID-19 vaccines.

“The EU welcomes that the Council is today able to speak with one voice on the issue of equitable, affordable, timely and universal access to vaccines,” Austria’s ambassador Elisabeth Tichy-Fisslberger said on behalf of the European Union.

China also endorsed the resolution, brought by Ecuador and the non-aligned movement. Britain clarified that any measures taken must be in accordance with international law but joined the consensus. The United States, which has observer status, did not co-sponsor the text. ...