Facing Tense IP And Health Talks, WHO Board Erupts Into Dance (Video)

Member nations of the World Health Organization became accustomed in recent years to singing by the WHO director general, and sometimes crying, but under the new DG there seems to be a move toward the whole room getting up in the middle of serious negotiations and … dancing.

After the Executive Board agreed on a decision today on physical activity for health, Assad Hafeez, the Board Chair, suggested a short session of physical activity. Mexican chicken dancing (pajaritos a volar in Spanish or la danse des canards in French) chaos ensued:

 

This session happened right before the successful decision was taken (IPW, WHO, 26 January 2018) on actions to advance the 2008 Global Strategy and Plan of Action (GSPA or GSPOA), which might have helped to mellow the characters of negotiators, who sometimes can become tense when discussing the subject of intellectual property and public health at the UN agency – with the lives of millions at stake.

New Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (Dr Tedros) can be seen showing his moves on the immediate left of the woman in the blue suit.

This was the second time this week that a WHO dance video was presented to the Board, getting them up out of their seats to move awkwardly and laughingly about in the hallowed plenary hall. The previous time also came around the time of the IP-related agenda item coming to the floor (IPW, WHO, 25 January 2018). And the second time, it appears even the US delegation was dancing.