Security Council Resolution 2565 (2021) [on International Cooperation to Facilitate Equitable and Affordable Access to Covid-19 Vaccines in Conflict Areas]

S/RES/2565 (2021)View PDF

Who adopted this document and its mandates?

A Resolution of the Security Council, under agenda item 10 Maintenance of international peace and security, published in 2021.

What subjects does this mandate have?

4 subjects

Ceasefires Covid-19 Humanitarian Assistance Vaccines

What’s in this document?

14 operative paragraphs

Calls for the strengthening of national and multilateral approaches and international cooperation, such as the COVAX Facility created within the ACT-A, and other relevant initiatives as appropriate, in order to facilitate equitable and affordable access to COVID-19 vaccines in armed conflict situations, post-conflict situations and complex humanitarian emergencies, stresses the need to develop international partnerships particularly to scale-up manufacturing and distribution capabilities, in recognition of differing national contexts, and notes the need to maintain incentives for the development of new health products; and recognising the role of extensive immunisation against COVID-19 as a global public good for health;

Reiterates its demand for a general and immediate cessation of hostilities in all situations on its agenda and supports the efforts undertaken by the Secretary-General and his Special Representatives and Special Envoys in that respect;

Demands that all parties to armed conflicts engage immediately in a durable, extensive, and sustained humanitarian pause to facilitate, inter alia, the equitable, safe and unhindered delivery and distribution of COVID-19 vaccinations in areas of armed conflict;

Calls for full, safe, and unhindered humanitarian access, without delay, for humanitarian personnel and medical personnel, their equipment, transport and supplies, in order to facilitate, inter alia, COVID-19 vaccinations, as appropriate, and calls for the protection, safety, and security of such humanitarian and medical personnel, and in this regard urges all parties to protect civilian infrastructure which is critical to the delivery of humanitarian aid for essential services concerning vaccinations and related medical care, in situations of armed conflicts and complex humanitarian emergencies;

Reaffirms that this general and immediate cessation of hostilities and this humanitarian pause do not apply to military operations against the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as Da’esh), Al Qaeda and Al Nusra Front, and all other individuals, groups, undertakings and entities associated with Al Qaeda or ISIL, and other terrorist groups, which have been designated by the Security Council;

Demands that all parties to armed conflicts fully comply with their obligations under international law, including international human rights law, as applicable, and international humanitarian law, in particular their obligations under the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and the obligations, as applicable, under the Additional Protocols of 1977 and 2005, to ensure the respect and protection of all medical personnel and humanitarian personnel exclusively engaged in medical duties, their means of transport and equipment, as well as hospitals and other medical facilities;

Requests the Secretary-General to report on the implementation of this resolution, in particular a full assessment of the impediments to vaccine accessibility and the COVID-19 response, including vaccination programmes, in countries in situations of armed conflict and complex humanitarian emergencies, frequently and as necessary, and make recommendations to the Council;

Expresses its intention to review those specific situations brought to its attention by the Secretary-General where hostilities and the activities of armed groups are impeding COVID-19 vaccination and to consider what further measures may be necessary to ensure such impediments are removed and hostilities paused to enable vaccination;

Calls for COVID-19 national vaccination plans to include those at a higher risk of developing severe COVID-19 symptoms and the most vulnerable, including frontline workers, older people, refugees, internally displaced people, stateless people, indigenous people, migrants, persons with disabilities, detained persons, as well as people living in areas under the control of any non-state armed group;

Calls for full funding of the Global Humanitarian Overview 2021 that takes into account the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on humanitarian situations, the ACT-A and its mechanisms such as the COVAX Facility and the health system connector, and other relevant initiatives to accelerate the development and production of, and equitable access to, COVID-19 diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines;

Emphasises the urgent need for solidarity, equity, and efficacy and invites donation of vaccine doses from developed economies and all those in a position to do so to low- and middle-income countries and other countries in need, particularly through the COVAX Facility including on the basis of the WHO allocation framework in addition to country-specific frameworks, for fair access and equitable allocation of COVID-19 health products;

Calls on Member States and all relevant stakeholders to promote research and capacity-building initiatives, as well as to enhance cooperation on and access to science, innovation, technologies, technical assistance and knowledge sharing, including through improved coordination among existing mechanisms, especially with developing countries, in a collaborative, coordinated and transparent manner in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and further calls for taking steps to avoid speculation and undue stockpiling that may hinder access to safe and effective vaccines, especially for situations of armed conflict;

Further requests that Special Representatives and Special Envoys of the Secretary-General, within their respective mandates, and in coordination with all relevant stakeholders, including civil society and the COVAX Facility and ACT-A and other relevant initiatives as appropriate, use their good offices and mediation with parties to armed conflicts to facilitate the COVID-19 response including vaccination in situations of armed conflict, and in their ordinary reporting to the Council identify barriers to accessibility and those disrupting or blocking efforts to establish vaccination pauses;

Decides to remain seized of the matter.

Who adopted this document and its mandates?

What subjects does this mandate have?

What’s in this document?

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