Equity, International Cooperation, and Global Public Health: Use of the Common but Differentiated Responsibilities Principle in the Fight against COVID-19

Abstract

During pandemics, in which harm is universal, states find themselves under anobligation to cooperate within a global solidarity framework. However, because they do nothave the same set of capabilities, their obligations should be differentiated and based on equityand distributive justice. As an effective tool of States’ foreign policy, health diplomacy is beingused by developing countries according to different priorities and interests. After a few monthsof relative calm, COVID-19 still poses a major challenge for African and Middle Easterneconomies and societies where the vaccination rates are low across the board with healthcaresystems in poor shape. If some Gulf countries can be considered exceptions due to activelockdowns, mobility restrictions, and considerable testing, their engagement abroad to helpcontain the pandemic, especially in North Africa, shows that, if the spirit of cooperation andjustice is well taken care of at the regional level, this is not the case at the international level,where global health cooperation would clearly benefit from the application of a type ofdifferentiated treatment such as the one provided by the Common but DifferentiatedResponsibilities (CBDR) principle.