Background
The High-level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) under the theme ‘Investing in the present and securing our future together: accelerating multisectoral global, regional and national actions to address antimicrobial resistance’ will be convened by the President of the General Assembly on 26 September 2024 at United Nations Headquarters in New York, in accordance with resolution A/RES/76/257.
The meeting will bring together Member States and observers of the General Assembly, the UN system, parliamentarians, non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations, academic institutions, the private sector and persons affected by AMR, as well as other relevant stakeholders.
Format
As per General Assembly resolution 78/269 on the Scope, modalities, format and organization of the high-level meeting on AMR, the meeting will be held fully in-person and will consist of an opening segment, a plenary, two interactive multi-stakeholder panels, and a closing segment.
Theme
The themes of the multi-stakeholder panels are as follows:
Panel 1: Addressing the urgent antimicrobial resistance crisis across the human, animal, plant, and environmental sectors through equity, access, building awareness, and innovation
Guiding Questions
Question 1: How can we ensure equitable access to antimicrobials and other therapeutics,
diagnostics and vaccines as required to prevent and treat drug-resistant infections in
humans, animals and plants for improved health outcomes?
Question 2: What are the most urgent actions needed to address AMR across human,
animal, plant, and environmental sectors? Are there existing best practices that countries
can adopt and scale up?
Question 3: How can we ensure responsible and sustainable manufacturing, prudent use
and disposal of antimicrobials for effective preventions across sectors?
Question 4: How can we better raise awareness and educate communities for an effective
behavioral change ensuring prevention and treatment of AMR in a multisectoral manner?
Question 5: What innovative approaches, as well as high-impact and cost-effective
preventive measures can be implemented to improve the national, regional and
international a AMR responses, particularly in low-resource settings?
Panel 2: Addressing human health, animal health and welfare, agrifood systems, and protecting the environment to tackle antimicrobial resistance, through integrated surveillance, capacity-building, sustainable resources, financing, and investment
Guiding Questions
Question 1: What are the current gaps in the surveillance of AMR and antimicrobial use?
How can we enhance integrated surveillance systems for a better informed and more cost-effective policy-decision making?
Question 2: What capacity-building resources are essential for preventing and addressing
AMR in specific sectors and across sectors? What strategies should be put in place to
ensure countries have adequate capacities, resources, and skills to efficiently implement
and evaluate their national AMR response, including their national action plans (NAPs) on
AMR?
Question 3: How can we sustainably fund our response to AMR particularly at the national
level? What financial mechanisms or innovations could be leveraged for AMR financing
at global, regional and national levels?
Question 4: How can we improve coordination on the AMR response and synergies with
other agendas such as environment, food security, and water, sanitation and hygiene
(WASH)?
Question 5: What role can the private sector play in achieving equitable access to
antimicrobials and complementary diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines? What measures
need to be implemented to ensure a sustainable R&D pipeline and roll out of
new antimicrobials, as well as alternatives to antimicrobials?
Remarks by the President of the General Assembly
Concept Note
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is invisible. I am not
Recognizing the importance of humanizing antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and in anticipation of forthcoming high-level meetings on AMR, the World Health Organization (WHO) is launching a special AMR awareness campaign. Its purpose is to bring survivors’ stories to the forefront, urging individuals to pause and contemplate how collective efforts can help prevent AMR.
The campaign theme is “Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is invisible. I am not”, which aims to place AMR survivors front and center, allowing us to talk about the growing, serious threat of AMR in a grounded, factual and relatable manner. AMR is invisible, but its victims are not.
Through the campaign, 12 survivors and advocates share their real-life stories, raising awareness and urging global action to address AMR. AMR concerns us all and can happen to anyone at any time, regardless of age, gender, wealth, or nationality.
A list of multilingual communication materials (videos, survivors quote cards, social media fact cards, infographic, posters, printable calendars, brochure for healthcare professionals, campaign guide and media toolkit) have been developed to promote this campaign.
You can easily download these editable resources to use and share with your networks.
Use the #AntimicrobialResistance hashtag to help us follow the conversation.
AMR is a problem for all countries at all income levels. Its spread does not recognize country borders. Contributing factors include lack of access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) for both humans and animals; poor infection and disease prevention and control in homes, healthcare facilities and farms; poor access to quality and affordable vaccines, diagnostics and medicines; lack of awareness and knowledge; and lack of enforcement of relevant legislation. People living in low-resource settings and vulnerable populations are especially impacted by both the drivers and consequences of AMR.
