Contact:
Mara M. Burr, JD, LL.M
Director, Multilateral Relations
Office of the Secretary
Office of Global Affairs
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Telephone: 202-205-4677
Mobile: 202-697-2935
The Multilateral Relations Office is a critical component of HHS's global work—it advances U.S. health and human services priorities, develops U.S. global health policy positions, and strengthens international health standards by engaging in multilateral global health diplomacy with a host of international organizations and other key partners. The Multilateral Relations Office represents the United States in critical global health negotiations and policy discussions on topics ranging from strengthening the International Health Regulations to non-communicable diseases and interpersonal violence. It serves as the primary liaison for U.S. Government engagement with the World Health Organization (WHO) and its six regional offices, including the Regional Offices of the Americas and Western Pacific, where the U.S. holds voting status. The Multilateral Relations team includes the HHS Health Attaché at the U.S. Mission to the UN and Other International Organizations in Geneva, who works with counterparts from around the world to advance U.S. global health and foreign policy priorities.
What We Do
- The Multilateral Relations Office coordinates the U.S. participation in the World Health Assembly (WHA) and governing body meetings of the World Health Organization. The WHA, as the governing body of the WHO, meets each May at the United Nations in Switzerland, and is attended by delegations from all 194 Member States. During the Assembly, countries agree to resolutions, adopt action plans, supervise finances, review and approve the proposed budgets, discuss key public health issues, and determine the policies of the organization.
The Secretary of Health and Human Services leads the U.S. delegation to WHA.
- Read the summary of the 75th World Health Assembly.
- HHS at the 69th World Health Assembly, May 23-28, 2016
World Health Organization Strengthening
The COVID-19 resolution, adopted at the 73rd World Health Assembly (WHA), calls for global cooperation, unity and solidarity and confirms commitment to meaningful change. Participating countries welcome the announcement of WHO on 9 July 2020 to launch an impartial, independent and comprehensive evaluation by the 'independent panel for pandemic preparedness and response' (IPPR) of the global COVID-19 response.
The roadmap below sets out areas where there is an opportunity to strengthen the WHO by increasing accountability and its ability to be impartial and objective, improve transparency and its overall effectiveness, by providing it with a more comprehensive set of tools that are fit-for-purpose to address new and emerging threats
The United States government has established principles for use by all federal agencies engaging with the United Nations and other International Organizations on the prevention and response to incidents of sexual exploitation and abuse and sexual harassment (SEAH). These principles reflect our commitment to increase U.S. engagement in a clear and consistent manner on SEAH issues, to promote accountability and transparency in response to SEAH incidents, and to ensure U.S. taxpayer resources are used in an effective and transparent manner. More information can be found here:
