Global partnerships: a key challenge and opportunity for implementation of international health law

Forging global partnerships between governments, international organizations, NGOs, civil society and business constitutes a key component of the UN and WHO action agenda. Several of these innovative alliances have galvanized important health campaigns and scaled up the response to global health problems. Guiding principles for partnerships design and implementation have been elaborated in particular to ensure quality, accountability and transparency. Partnerships are not intended to substitute commitments made by governments but to complement them, increasing the quality of implementation of international agreements, mobilizing the capacity for action on the ground and forging capacity building efforts to support weaker partners. Partnerships have the potential for weaving together economic law and human rights law, democracy and pluralism. Building into partnerships democratic commitments and safeguards for public interests is essential in creating a true sense of shared global responsibility.