Blocs unite in WHO, work begins on one Draft Resolution
Written by Adam Blake, Journalist, LIMUN 2026
As previously reported, the World Health Organisation had two working papers introduced. Despite this, the clear overlaps in demands made in each paper and the willingness of certain states to compromise and work across blocs has resulted in a Draft Resolution being produced that holds support from the vast majority of the delegates in the committee.
The Draft Resolution sponsored by Italy, New Zealand, and Portugal and signed by most other delegates seeks to bring together two sides of the debate that are not too dissimilar in goals, ensuring that sovereignty is respected whilst still permitting the practices of Assisted Dying and Euthanasia within States.
The Resolution itself notes ‘the absence of shared procedural standards governing the conduct of assisted dying’ as well as ‘Urging Member States and WHO to invest in palliative care capacity-building’ in its preambulatory clauses before the seven operative clauses of the Resolution.
The operative clauses call for first and foremost a respect between nations for each other’s authority over their citizens, and by extension the provisioning of who receives access to Assisted Dying services in a given state. Alongside this, the resolution calls for the implementation of a ‘multidisciplinary capacity verification process’, that calls for a professional psychological assessment and safeguarding measures to ensure there is no coercion involved. This is coupled with the two-doctor approval process discussed in previous articles.
The resolution does not only tackle the regulation of Assisted Dying and Euthanasia but also the provisioning of Palliative Care within states. The resolution directly calls for an increase in funding in states for Palliative Care services, as well as a provision for at-home Palliative care across all states coupled with a requirement for legal support in states where Assisted Dying is legal. This demand will be funded by a new ‘WHO Relief Fund’ which seeks to tackle chronic underfunding of palliative care specifically.
As this Resolution brings together the two largest blocs within the committee it has strong support and looks likely to be adopted after voting, though this is yet to be seen.
More updates to follow.
