On 21 September 2016, the President of the UN General Assembly convenes an one-day high-level meeting at the UN Headquarters in New York on “Antimicrobial Resistance“, with the participation of Member States, non-governmental organizations, civil society, the private sector and academic institutions, in order to provide input.

The primary objective of the meeting is to summon and maintain strong national, regional and international political commitment in addressing antimicrobial resistance comprehensively and multi-sectorally, and to increase and improve awareness of antimicrobial resistance.

The meeting emphasizes the important role and the responsibilities of governments, as well as the role of relevant inter-governmental organizations, particularly the World Health Organization within its mandate and in coordination with FAO and o IE, as appropriate, in responding to the challenges of antimicrobial resistance, and the essential need for multi-sectorial and cross-sectorial efforts and engagement of all relevant sectors of society, -such as human and veterinary medicine, agriculture, finance, environment and consumers- to generate an effective response, including towards a one-health approach.

It further recalls the World Health Assembly Resolution WHA 68.7 entitled “Global Action Plan on antimicrobial resistance” which reflects a global consensus that antimicrobial resistance poses a significant public health challenge, and emphasizing the paramount significance of achieving the five strategic objectives of the WHA Global Action Plan.