Introduction:
The need for cooperation between States in the field of global health has been known since the 19th century, when the first efforts at international coordination in the fight against epidemics were made. These efforts were at the center of global discussions after the West African Ebola crisis in 2014 and again in 2020 as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic. The latter, due to its global impact, has highlighted multiple weaknesses in the level of pandemic preparedness of States to prevent and react to the threats posed by infectious diseases, whether in the short term to block their spread, or in the long term to face the sanitary, ethical, economic and social challenges
In reality, the need for the international community to strengthen the legal basis for its cooperation and action in the field of global health goes well beyond a need to be prepared against infectious diseases: it is more generally a matter of providing a collective and concerted response to many global health issues related to drug resistance, non-communicable diseases, mental health conditions, health inequities, access to primary health care services for all, implementation of universal health coverage, global lack of health workforce, etc.
International law, as a central instrument in the toolbox of the international community to address global health challenges, must be taught, critically discussed, implemented, improved, and developed. Students and young professionals active in the broad field of global health should be well aware of the international legal environment applicable to global health issues and its potential.
Students will learn through a combination of lectures, seminars, class discussion and practical exercises. The approach will be guided by the in-depth examination of specific global health challenges and the analysis of the actors and norms involved in the resolution of these issues.
Participants
The Summer School will provide participants with the unique opportunity to meet international experts from academia as well as professionals from international institutions in Geneva involved in the field of global health law and closely correlated areas. It will also provide an exciting opportunity to meet new people from around the world, share common interests and build an international network.
The number of participants is limited to 30.