Introductory note: The Parliamentary Universal Engagement Bio Legislative Observatory (PUEBLO) is a new initiative of PGA's International Peace and Security Program, designed as a collaborative project with relevant organizations and potential partners. This project is under progressive development.
A. PUEBLO Objectives
- Raise awareness and improve understanding among Parliamentarians and interested/relevant Government Ministries in PUEBLO targeted countries/regions worldwide surrounding the multi-dimensional nature of legislation required to be drafted, introduced, adopted, implemented and enforced to achieve All-of-Society, One Health goals, reducing the risk, and mitigating the consequences, of future epidemics and pandemics, naturally occurring, accidental, or deliberately induced
- Introduce Parliamentarians and interested/relevant Government Ministries in PUEBLO targeted countries/regions worldwide to Model legislation and/or examples of suitable legislation already in place in certain States which, individually and collectively, contribute to implementation of All-of-Society, One Health goals with a view to encouraging adoption and implementation of similar such legislation, adjusted, as needed, in the individual national context, in PUEBLO targeted countries/regions worldwide
- Promote capacity-building of Parliamentarians in PUEBLO targeted countries/regions worldwide leading to introduction, drafting, adoption, implementation and enforcement of legislation aimed at achieving All-of-Society, One Health goals
B. PUEBLO Components
Bio, Epidemics, Animals, Toxins (BEAT)
Bio
Biosecurity, Biosafety, Biodiversity and Bioexclusion; Legislation addressing bioterrorism threats, including implementation of international frameworks such as the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) and UN Security Council Resolution 1540 (2004); Legislation addressing Biosafety norms and standards; Legislation addressing protection of biodiversity, forests, plants, crops, including through implementation of The Convention on Biological Diversity and Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety; Legislation addressing climate change, including through implementation of The Paris Agreement
Epidemics
Legislation addressing epidemic/pandemic and emergency preparedness as well as implementation of International Health Regulations (IHR) (2005) of World Health Organization (WHO) & nationally accepted recommendations contained in WHO Joint External Evaluation (JEE) Mission Reports
Animals
Legislation addressing animal disease control, zoonotic transmission, wildlife, wild animal/marine life wet markets, and the livestock agricultural dimension of biosecurity
Toxins
Legislation addressing possession, usage, transport, export, import of dangerous/high consequence human pathogens and animal toxins, licensing requirements, agreed control lists/schedules of high consequence human pathogens and animal toxins subject to/to be governed by applicable legislation, criminalization of breaches of legislation/prescription of offenses; introduction and implementation of international safety quality standards and bio-risk management best practices for laboratories dealing with high consequence human pathogens and animal toxins; legislation addressing anti-microbial resistance and neglected tropical diseases.
C. Actions
- Sharing of Model Legislation and/or examples of existing legislation in other/neighboring States to implement All-of-Society, One-Health Goals
- Highlighting role of Parliamentarians, both as advocates, as well as lawmakers in the introduction of Whole-of-Society, One Health focused legislation and subsequent adoption, implementation and enforcement of such legislation in Parliaments in PUEBLO targeted countries
- Explanation of key statutory provisions that need to be included in Whole-of-Society, One Health focused legislation to be introduced and enacted in PUEBLO targeted countries or which may not be fully reflected in current/existing relevant legislation in PUEBLO targeted countries, requiring amendment of such legislation
D. PUEBLO Target Countries and Regions
Africa
Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Eritrea, Guinea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
South and South-East Asia
Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand
Asia Pacific Oceania Small Island States
Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Tuvalu, Samoa, Vanuatu
Latin America
Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela
Caribbean/CARICOM States
Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago
E. PUEBLO Planned Activities
- October - December 2022
Initial, bilateral Consultations and Virtual Meetings with Parliamentarians in PUEBLO target countries - January 2023 – April 2024
5 Regional Parliamentary Workshops to Promote Adoption of BEAT Legislation to Implement All-of Society, One-Health Goals, to mitigate risks of future epidemics/pandemics, with the participation also of PGA partner governments and representatives from relevant international organizations- Africa
Accra, Ghana
October/November 2022 - Caribbean/CARICOM States
St. Georges, Grenada
March/April 2023 - South and South East Asia
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
August/September 2023 - Latin America
Quito, Ecuador
January/February 2024 - Oceania Small Pacific Island States
Apia, Samoa
May/June 2024
- Africa
F. Expected Outcomes from PUEBLO Activities
- Significantly improved awareness and understanding among participants surrounding the paramount importance of taking of a broad, holistic approach in promoting the adoption and implementation of All-of-Society, One Health Legislative Goals
- Significantly improved knowledge among participants of the different, complimentary nature of All-of Society, One Health Legislative Goals, with particular reference to the specific, synergistic, symbiotic and mutually-reinforcing BEAT components of such legislative goals
- Significantly improved capacity of participants to promote adoption and implementation of BEAT One Health legislation
- 50-75% of participants in all 5 Regional Parliamentary Workshops take one or more substantive, concrete steps to advocate for, and promote, the introduction, implementation and enforcement of BEAT All-of-Society, One Health Legislation in their respective countries and regions, making decisive, sustainable contributions to prevention and mitigation of future pandemics
For further information on PGA IPSP PUEBLO, please contact Peter Barcroft, Senior Director, International Peace and Security Program, PGA peter.barcroft@pgaction.org (English, Spanish) or Mr. Florian Delsert, Program Associate, International Peace and Security Program, PGA at florian.delsert@pgaction.org (French, English, Spanish)
