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Constitutional Crisis at the World Health Organization

Updated: Feb 16, 2021


In my April 15, 2020 blog titled China, Communism, Pandemics: Statism, Negligence, and Secrecy on Trial, I wrote the following:


The highly acclaimed ethicist and philosopher Sissela Bok, the daughter of two Nobel Peace Prize winners, Gunnar and Alva Myrdal, is a notable scholar who is well written on matters pertaining to lies, deception, and secrets. In her book Lying: On the Ethics of Concealment and Revelation, Bok's chapter on Secrets of State makes the following argument and goes to the heart of the actions of China's rogue regime.

For coercive governments, secrecy is essential to every aspect of their exercise of power. These regimes combine control over secrecy with equal control over what becomes public. But secrecy also becomes the central means of resistance and survival of those who oppose such regimes, whether actively or merely in thought. From childhood on, these citizens surreptitiously learn how to reinterpret propaganda, read between the lines, resist indoctrination, evade the secret police.


This was my initial treatment of the COVID-19 crisis and the case against Chinese corruption at the Chinese Communist Party. Since then, an avalanche of evidence has emerged strengthening an onslaught of criticism against the government of China for its egregious handling of the COVID-19 pandemic that so far has killed 80,682 Americans and 286,330 globally according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University.


On May 9th, Taiwan News posted an article titled, China asked WHO to cover up coronavirus outbreak: German intelligence service. Matthew Strong, Taiwan News Staff Writer, writes, "TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Chinese leader Xi Jinping (習近平) asked World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus to suppress news about the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, the German intelligence agency BND found, according to a report by German magazine Der Spiegel." This shocking revelation confirms everyone's worst fears and also shows how the World Health Organization is in crisis and complicit in Chinese treachery at its highest level.


I like to refer back to Constitutions, oaths of office, and other official declarations and affirmations because they define purpose, principles and vision, and help promote transparency and accountability with constituencies. They are important during transfers of power, but they need to remain important to help establish accountability and integrity and preserve the public trust without compromise. Here's what the WHO's Constitution says and why we should never lose sight of what this organization is founded upon:


The health of all peoples is fundamental to the attainment of peace and security and is dependent upon the fullest co-operation of individuals and States


Article 1 The objective of the World Health Organization (hereinafter called the Organization) shall be the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health.


Article 2(c) to assist Governments, upon request, in strengthening health services;

(i) to promote, in co-operation with other specialized agencies where necessary, the improvement of nutrition, housing, sanitation, recreation, economic or working conditions and other aspects of environmental hygiene;

(d) to furnish appropriate technical assistance and, in emergencies, necessary aid upon the request or acceptance of Governments;

(g) to stimulate and advance work to eradicate epidemic, endemic and other diseases;

(h) to promote, in co-operation with other specialized agencies where necessary, the prevention of accidental injuries;

(r) to assist in developing an informed public opinion among all peoples on matters of health;


Article 21 The Health Assembly shall have authority to adopt regulations concerning: (a) sanitary and quarantine requirements and other procedures designed to prevent the international spread of disease;


Article 28 (i) to take emergency measures within the functions and financial resources of the Organization to deal with events requiring immediate action. In particular it may authorize the Director-General to take the necessary steps to combat epidemics, to participate in the organization of health relief to victims of a calamity and to undertake studies and research the urgency of which has been drawn to the attention of the Board by any Member or by the Director-General.


Article 37 In the performance of their duties the Director-General and the staff shall not seek or receive instructions from any government or from any authority external to the Organization. They shall refrain from any action which might reflect on their position as international officers. Each Member of the Organization on its part undertakes to respect the exclusively international character of the Director-General and the staff and not to seek to influence them.


Article 76 Upon authorization by the General Assembly of the United Nations or upon authorization in accordance with any agreement between the Organization and the United Nations, the Organization may request the International Court of Justice for an advisory opinion on any legal question arising within the competence of the Organization.


Again, the above highlights are straight from the Constitution of the World Health Organization, which derives its power and authority from the United Nations. Every single item above has been violated by the actions of the Director-General as reported in the Taiwan News article I cited in the beginning. Items in bold and underlined are especially noteworthy as they reflect a Constitutional crisis at the World Health Organization. For the Director-General to explicitly violate Articles 2(d & h), 28(i), and 37, notwithstanding all the others that are referenced, I see no professional or ethical basis for him to remain at the helm of this organization, whose primary existence is to promote "happiness, harmonious relations and security of all peoples".


The secret actions of Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus are indefensible and fireable offenses. Ultimately, they have rendered the WHO and its Constitution toothless, fraudulent, and delinquent, as too many lives have been lost under this reckless regime. This Constitutional Crisis at the WHO must stop now! Integrity must be restored from head to toe in order to regain respect, credibility, and most importantly, restored confidence in its ability to effectively carry out its mission. The world, especially now, deserves and expects nothing less.

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