Development of an International Convention on the Control of Dangerous Infectious Diseases — Modern Requirement

Abstract

The paper deals with current international legal problems that have arisen in connection with the uncontrolled spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the study of the international legal framework aimed at countering the spread of dangerous infectious diseases, the author concludes that the existing rules and recommendations have been ineffective during the rapid spread of coronavirus infection. The activities of individual states and the World Health Organization are analyzed, and the possibility to request an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice on the issue related to the spread of the pandemic in 2019-2020 is justified. A proposal has been put forward to establish a Committee on dangerous infectious diseases. The author suggests that international medical law as a complex international legal institution be at the stage of formation and should receive progressive development, including through the development and adoption of international medical agreements. A conceptual framework for decision-making is provided for evaluating and notifying events that may constitute a public health emergency of international significance. The chronology of the events in January — March 2020 related to the spread of COVID-19 and the measures taken to counteract it is reproduced. The author proposes the concept of a new International Convention "On the fight against dangerous infectious diseases" that should enshrine the following provisions: early notification about dangerous communicable disease; cooperation of the states in localization of the infectious diseases foci; cooperation with WHO; grant aid to the requesting state; facilitation of personnel, equipment and property transit through the territory of a state in and out of the requesting state; cooperation of states in order to facilitate the settlement of legal actions and complaints, etc.