Biden official says: “If WHO didn’t exist, we’d have to create it.”

2023 Global health security actions and our forecast for 2024

In a congressional hearing on December 13, 2023, the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Assistant Secretary Loyce Pace told lawmakers in her opening statement, “If WHO didn’t exist, we’d have to create it” to guard global health against the next, inevitable, pandemic.

We can’t think of a better statement to illustrate the urgent importance of keeping health decisions as close to home as possible. Those words show us that our health data and decisions are keys to a digital prison being constructed with one hand, while the other drafts treaties and amendments.

Momentum has been building toward May 2024, the 77th World Health Assembly, where it’s been declared that the unelected representatives will vote on the pandemic treaty and amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR). But before we turn the corner, let’s see how far 2023 has taken us.

First U.S. congressional hearing on the WHO treaty and IHR amendments

On December 13, 2023, the House Oversight Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic held a hearing titled “Reforming the WHO: Ensuring Global Health Security and Accountability.”

A lot of the hearing focused on China’s influence on the World Health Organization (WHO), demonstrated by the WHO’s delay in declaring a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) for COVID, stating there was no human-to-human transmission and allowing China to control the investigation into a lab leak.

When asked if China should be held accountable for their actions in covering up their role in — and the severity of — the outbreak, HHS Office of Global Affairs representative Pace hedged answering and, when pressed, answered that the new IHR and the treaty would ensure something like this never happens again. She refused to be pinned down to saying that China should be held accountable. And that’s chilling, because she’s a lead representative of the United States to an organization that has shown it will bend to China’s will, despite the U.S.’s larger financial contributions. Witness John Nkengasong from the Department of State sang the same song. On the flip side, refreshingly, Dr. Atul Gawande, from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) did not hesitate to call out the failures and lies of China and state they should be held accountable.

The issue of whether the treaty and IHR amendments would threaten American sovereignty was brought up, with predictable dismissive answers that sadly got no follow up. The hearing was titled “Reforming the WHO,” but there was very little talk of what that meant. Pace (who is the signatory on the 2022 IHR amendment package from the U.S.) asserted the WHO has undergone reforms in the past, citing the 2005 IHR amendments after the mishandling of SARS in the early 2000s, and the creation of the WHO Health Emergencies Program after mishandling of Ebola in the 20-teens. She asserts that reform is the reason the U.S. led the way in proposing changes to the IHR. But that assertion conflates expansion of scope and authority with reform. It’s like saying, “You messed up, here’s more responsibility.” Sounds like the CDC, admitting they mishandled COVID, but if they only had more money to spend at their discretion and more data on Americans, they’d be able to get it right. The 2005 amendments greatly expanded the WHO’s scope and authority (by placing National Focal points, creating the PHEIC, and changing the organization from one only authorized to act during specified diseases to authorizing involvement for any potential threat). That’s not reform. At no point did anyone — witnesses nor lawmakers — bring up the corruption at the WHO, such as ongoing exposure of sexual abuses and misconduct, as well as financial abuses. This is the type of reform that’s needed. There was no mention of the simple fact that reelection of Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus,1 from Marxist Ethiopia, is all the proof one needs to see the organization has no intention of “reform” in the sense of cleaning house and getting better. There’s wide consensus the WHO was off the mark with the COVID pandemic, but instead of holding anyone accountable, they reelected the man at the helm. The only “reform” they’re interested in is the type Pace is spearheading — a power grab.

Comments from Gawande were telling. Many of his answers highlighted all the things the U.S. has done in partnership with the WHO over the years: built response capacity to respond to Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo, pushed to create a global health emergencies program, created new committees at the WHO, provided more COVID shots around the world than any other country. If we can do all of this already, why do we need a treaty or updated IHR?

Marjorie Taylor Greene was a shining light during the proceedings. She was the only lawmaker who focused on the IHR, asking about how the U.S. (or any country) would be able to have meaningful input if the WHO declared that the amendments package does not need to be finalized before the World Health Assembly (WHA), as the rules stated. Pace fielded that question by saying she’d protect our sovereignty, and she’s seen the amendments.

Treaty

The most recent draft of the treaty was released in October, referred to as the “negotiating text.2 The name has been changed to the “WHO Pandemic Agreement.” The agreement would create a liability shield for vaccine manufacturers, mimicking the U.S. 1986 Act (The National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act which removed liability from manufacturers). The treaty (and the IHR) uses a “One Health” approach, a term coined by EcoHealth Alliance3 (NIH grantee for gain-of-function research in Wuhan, China4). One Health sweeps all aspects of life under the public health umbrella5 communications, mental health, travel, food, agriculture, surveillance, economies, environment, medicines, and more.6

Most troubling is the proposal to create a “Conference of the Parties” (COP) which would be an additional body that would operate outside of the World Health Assembly, create and adopt its own rules and procedures, determine ways to enforce them, and even request “services and cooperation of” other bodies including the United Nations. (Article 21.7(d) on page 24)

The treaty working group (called the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body) is scheduled to meet again February 19 and March 18, 2024 where the text will be finalized for the May 2024 World Health Assembly. 

Given the amount of overlap between provisions in the treaty and the IHR amendments, and the fact that the treaty is much harder to pass, some are already wondering if the treaty may either not come to a vote or will not pass and instead we will see treaty provisions in the IHR amendments.

The treaty requires two-thirds adoption by the World Health Assembly, then it must be accepted in home countries.

The IHR amendments require only a simple majority (over 50%) to pass and are presumed adopted unless countries specifically opt out through a formal rejection.

IHR amendments

2022 amendments

In 2022, after the pandemic treaty drafting and negotiating had already begun, the U.S. submitted about a dozen amendments to the existing IHR. Only one was adopted, which speeds up the timeline of making amendments in the future. The process was shortened from 18 months to accept or reject amendments, to only 10 months (though notably, the U.S. pushed for an even shorter timeline of six months). 

In the World Health Assembly, countries are deemed to have adopted amendments if they do not reject them by a certain time. That time was December 1, 2023. As of this writing, there’s no evidence that any country rejected the timeline (though there are many individuals in various governments who may have personally rejected it and are at odds with their own government). A group from the European Parliament rejected the vote altogether, failing to find evidence it was properly conducted. The group submitted a written request to the DirectorGeneral to produce such evidence of a proper vote and, getting no response, submitted a second letter declaring the 2022 amendments null and void. We can assume the WHO will assert that the amendment was accepted, but we can also anticipate continued pushback from activists.

More amendments

The 2022 proposed amendments from the U.S. were unexpected, and many countries were upset they did not have an opportunity for similar input. Therefore, most of the amendments were held for further input. The initial proposed changes, plus over 300 more, have now been proposed by member states around the globe.7 The Working Group for the IHR was expected to have the amendments consolidated and ready to report on for vote four months before the meeting, as per the IHR, and as instructed in the document that created the group. But on October 6,2023, one of the co-chairs of the group announced the amendments would not be ready in time. The lawyer for the WHO was prepared with a statement to declare the IHR does not apply to the group. So, while the WHO is working to strengthen the rules for everyone around the globe, it has simultaneously decreed that the rules do not apply to them.

It is the position of Stand for Health Freedom, as well as many other groups and professionals, that the amendments to the IHR need to be considered a treaty. In fact, other countries and lawmakers have the same opinion. One member of the Dutch Parliament, Wybren van Haga, sent a reservation to the WHO saying the amendments were a treaty and could not be adopted by the Netherlands until they had their own vote, which had not occurred.8 Eleven members of the Estonian Parliament also submitted a rejection letter asserting the treaty needed to be ratified and had not been, but the rest of the Parliament issued a letter saying they did not reject the IHR amendments. This is a developing situation and SHF is vetting the information (which is in many different languages). 

COP 28 first-ever Health Day

Remember that term, “Conference of the Parties,” that’s a proposed creation in the treaty? It’s not a new term for those associated with the United Nations. There has been a yearly climate change Conference of the Parties, known as COP, where leaders in the climate change space meet to set the agenda for the coming year. 

This year, at the 28th COP, they held the first-ever “Health Day.” If you’re confused about why a climate change conference would have a health day, it’s because climate is increasingly tied to public health under that One Health umbrella being used as a framework for all public health. The Biden administration has gone all in with the One Health approach by opening an Office of Climate Change and Health Equity as a part of HHS in 2021.9

During the Health Day on December 3, 2023, more finances were pledged toward “environmental determinants of health.” The U.S. pledged $300 million to a global fund. The day culminated in a new pledge: the Declaration on Climate and Health, signed by 124 countries. 10

Here’s what the Director General of the WHO had to say about this new declaration:11

UN Political Declaration on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness, and Response

In 2023, we saw a notable increase in the presence of the United Nations in global public health. The COP 28 Health Day is one example of a U.N. initiative for climate wrapping its tentacles around health. The pandemic treaty’s proposed Conference of the Parties for global health would also be able to call on the United Nations for assistance in implementing whatever they may write on the blank check they’re attempting to obtain. 

To leave no doubt that the United Nations is not going to stand by idly while the World Health Organization takes center stage, they threw their weight around this fall by creating and adopting a High-level Political Declaration on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness, and Response.12

At this point in time, the WHO may not have “teeth” to enforce its IHR, but we must remember its parent organization, the United Nations, does. Until now, the U.N. has been so distant from the WHO’s doings that most people don’t even know the WHO is part of the U.N. That’s changing now, as the U.N. has surely observed the massive power grab that is taking place in the name of safety from “the next inevitable pandemic” that generates the fear needed for compliance.

What’s on deck for 2024?

The main event is the 77th World Health Assembly, scheduled for May 27 – June 1, 2024. This is where the rubber meets the road, so to speak, on the global health security state that has been building for the last three years with the documents mentioned above. The treaty is scheduled to be finalized for a vote, and the IHR amendments should be compiled into a package for vote as well. 

The U.N. Summit of the Future is scheduled for September 2024. This conference is meant to have a multi-generational reach and to bolster Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals, which are foundational to the global health security state being built out right now.

And, last but not least, 2024 is a big election year for the United States! Be sure to follow Vote for Health Freedom. And check out SHF’s timeline, which is regularly updated.

  1. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/ethiopia-accuses-who-chief-links-rebellious-tigrayan-forces-2022-01-14/ ↩︎
  2. https://apps.who.int/gb/inb/pdf_files/inb7/A_INB7_3-en.pdf ↩︎
  3. https://globalhealthnow.org/2017-09/whats-difference-meaning-one-health ↩︎
  4. https://oversight.house.gov/landing/covid-origins/ ↩︎
  5. https://merylnass.substack.com/p/why-countries-must-leave-the-world?utm_source=%2Fsearch%2Fcountries%2520that%2520followed%2520WHO%2520guidance%2520had%2520worse%2520outcomes&utm_medium=reader2 ↩︎
  6. https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/363518/9789240059139-eng.pdf?sequence=1 ↩︎
  7. https://apps.who.int/gb/wgihr/pdf_files/wgihr1/WGIHR_Submissions_Original_Languages.pdf ↩︎
  8. https://merylnass.substack.com/p/a-member-of-the-dutch-parliament?publication_id=746368&post_id=139274870&isFreemail=true&r=rgolm ↩︎
  9. https://www.hhs.gov/climate-change-health-equity-environmental-justice/climate-change-health-equity/actions/index.html ↩︎
  10. https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/climate-change/cop28/cop28-uae-climate-and-health-declaration.pdf?sfvrsn=2c6eed5a_2&download=true ↩︎
  11. https://www.cop28.com/en/news/2023/12/Health-Declaration-delivering-breakthrough-moment-for-health-in-climate-talks ↩︎
  12. https://standforhealthfreedom.com/wha/ ↩︎

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Jill Hines

Directory of Advocacy
A former banker turned homeschool mom, Jill Hines began researching alternatives to conventional medicine in 2010 and what she discovered changed the trajectory of her life. She corrected a worrisome health issue, and embraced a natural approach to wellness. Advocating for informed consent and parental rights became a full-time mission when she joined the board of the Georgia Coalition for Vaccine Choice and later became the co-director of Health Freedom Louisiana. Due to her advocacy efforts during the COVID crisis, Jill was one of 25 Louisianans selected by Central City News as “a hero of the constitutional crisis.” She was also presented the Impact Award for Outstanding Public Service from the government watchdog organization Citizens for a New Louisiana. Jill now represents hundreds of millions of Americans who experienced censorship due to the Biden administration's efforts to suppress disfavored speech as a plaintiff in the landmark lawsuit Missouri v. Biden. Jill holds a marketing degree from Louisiana Tech University and now passionately “sells” health freedom full-time. Serving as Stand for Health Freedom’s advocacy director provides an incredible opportunity to advance the growing movement to preserve the sacred right to refuse unwanted medical interventions for ourselves and our children without fear of retribution.
“We have lived through a terrifying societal, psychological, and medical experiment which afforded us a knowledge that our forefathers tried to impart and we can no longer ignore: Our freedom is tenuous. For our children’s sake, the time is now to take a stand for health freedom.”

Chrissy Scott

Executive Assistant and Social Media Manager

A labor and delivery nurse with a lifelong passion for maternal and fetal health, Chrissy Scott left her job of 19 years after learning the truth about the harms caused by the medical system. In 2009, she was mandated by her employer to receive the H1N1 vaccine during her first trimester of pregnancy with her second child. She was assured that the vaccine was “safe and effective” for pregnant women, but her son was born with a kidney defect that could have been fatal. She didn’t connect the dots to vaccine injury until several years later when the declining health of her oldest son drove her to seek answers outside of allopathic medicine.

This personal journey ignited in her a new passion for truth and transparency in health care. As SHF’s Executive Assistant, Chrissy facilitates communication and local advocacy initiatives alongside Leah Wilson for their home state of Indiana. She also manages and creates graphics for SHF’s social media accounts and the website’s swag shop.

Chrissy earned her nursing degree from Anderson University and served her entire career at her local hospital. While she’s no longer a floor nurse, her five very active boys frequently test her nursing skills! She homeschools her children and has been co-owner of a successful home décor sign business with her sister.

“Parents, being the experts on their own children, are best suited to make decisions for the well-being of their family. To do this properly, they must be given full and accurate information and be free from force or coercion.”

Ellen Chappelle

Writer/Editor

Ellen Chappelle serves as SHF’s resident wordsmith. A seasoned writer and editor, she’s enthusiastic about ensuring that our content is clear, concise, and inspiring.

Ellen is most energized by working on projects that transform lives. A truth seeker as well as a journalist, she’s disturbed by the lack of accuracy in today’s media and determined to help share fact rather than fiction. And having found greater healing with alternative approaches, she’s also passionate about preserving our freedom to make informed health choices.

Past projects include serving as regional editor of a dog magazine, color and trend specialist for a small cosmetics company, arts columnist, newspaper reporter, ghostwriter, and creator of website content for artists and small businesses.

With a degree in journalism and theatre, Ellen is also a performer. She enjoyed singing and dancing on a cruise ship and traveling with a national musical theatre tour, as well as recording industrial videos, television commercials, and radio voiceovers. She also creates handcrafted jewelry in wire, chain maille, and fused glass.

“Despite what some would have us believe, the fact remains that this nation was founded on biblical principles by people who wanted freedom to worship God and live their lives without government involvement. It’s never been more critical to fight for those rights.”

LEAH WILSON

Executive Director and Co-founder

An attorney with a background in complex litigation and advocacy, Leah Wilson is passionate about children’s health and has researched and worked on child welfare issues for more than a decade.

The overmedication of children in foster care as a form of behavior management is what compelled Leah to become an advocate and foster parent. During her time as a court-appointed special advocate for abused and neglected children, Leah witnessed the rampant use of psychiatric drugs among foster kids. She also discovered that, in addition to many extensive requirements, the state had a policy that all foster children and foster families be fully vaccinated, without exception. Through her involvement in law, health and the foster care system, it became abundantly clear to Leah that the single most important issue affecting child welfare in the United States is the practice of one-size-fits-all medicine via medical mandates. This motivated Leah to expand her advocacy beyond foster care to all children nationwide and to start Stand for Health Freedom (SHF) in 2019.

A graduate of the Saint Louis University School of Law, Leah holds dual bachelor degrees in political science and Spanish from Indiana University. In addition to her advocacy work with SHF, Leah is the owner and former operations director of MaxLiving Indy, one of the largest natural health centers in the Midwest. She is also an educator on holistic health as well as a sought-after speaker on issues ranging from religious rights to greening your home.

“Parental rights and religious freedom are God-given natural rights that cannot arbitrarily be taken away by government authorities. Parents are the single most important factor in a child’s success; I stand in full support of this sacred relationship.”

Sayer JI

Director and Co-founder

Sayer Ji is a widely recognized researcher, author, lecturer, activist, and educator on natural health modalities. Among his many roles, he is an advisor to Stand for Health Freedom, a reviewer and editor of the International Journal of Human Nutrition and Functional Medicine, an advisory board member of the National Health Federation, a steering committee member of the Global GMO Free Coalition, and the co-founder and CEO of Systome Biomed Inc., a revolutionary scientific validation framework.

Most notably, Sayer is the founder of Greenmedinfo.com, the world’s most widely referenced, evidence-based natural health resource of its kind. He founded the platform in 2008 to provide an open access, evidence-based resource supporting natural and integrative modalities. Today, Greenmedinfo.com has more than a million visits per month, serving as a trusted resource on myriad health and wellness topics to physicians, healthcare practitioners, clinicians, researchers and consumers worldwide.

Sayer attended Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, where he studied under the notable American philosopher Dr. Bruce W. Wilshire. He received a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy in 1995, with a focus on the philosophy of science. His new book, Regenerate: Unlocking Your Body’s Radical Resilience through the New Biology, was released in March 2020 and is an Amazon bestseller.

“I truly believe that education will be our greatest shield against accelerating the erosion of civil liberties, including the right to bodily sovereignty, as well as the greatest catalyst for positive change on this planet moving forward.”

Bailey Kuykendoll

Associate Director

Designer and visual marketer Bailey Kuykendoll began advocating for health and religious freedom and parental rights in 2014 after learning she was pregnant. A self-described skeptic, she’s not afraid to ask questions and do copious amounts of research to reach her own conclusions.

She’s also not afraid of hard work. As SHF’s Relationship Manager, Bailey truly keeps the organizational boat afloat. Working closely with health freedom advocates in each state, she ensures that SHF has campaigns for health-freedom-related bills and petitions on our website and across social media, spreading the word to encourage people to contact their legislators. She builds campaigns, graphics, website pages, and relationships.

Bailey earned a design degree from Harrington Institute of Design in 2008. She then served as a production assistant on several shows for HGTV, followed by working behind the scenes on the X Factor, small indie films, music videos, and documentaries. Bailey joined Health Freedom Florida after moving to the East Coast, becoming co-president of the grassroots organization in 2019. While at Health Freedom Florida, she successfully filed a state bill designed to stop discrimination based on your health status. She joined SHF in the fall of 2020.

“God placed a calling on my heart back in 2008 to be a part of something bigger for Him. Twelve years later, the opportunity came knocking to help others lean into their natural-born rights and take a stand for themselves and their families. I knew this is where I was called to be, and I have never looked back.”

Valerie Borek

POLICY ANALYST

Valerie Borek is a passionate advocate for health rights and family privacy. A mother of two with degrees in law and biochemistry, she is perfectly positioned to lead SHF advocates through complex health-rights policy. Her work is guided by a love for American values, uncovering truth, and a passion for empowering others. Valerie has served as SHF’s policy analyst since 2021.

Valerie’s understanding of the value of freedom to make one’s own health care choices is not just academic. Health freedom has kept her boys alive and thriving. Her choice to have home births jump-started her advocacy for health privacy. Her eldest son survived a rare and deadly cancer because her family was able to navigate medical care while holding onto values that were sometimes at odds with recommendations.

Before joining SHF, Valerie specialized in health and parenting rights at her boutique law firm, especially surrounding birth and vaccine rights. She advocated for informed consent in health care and transparent food labeling in her state. She helped found the Birth Rights Bar Association and was honored to present their argument to the Delaware Supreme Court that midwifery is not the practice of medicine, in support of a trailblazing midwife.

“Health is the foundation of how we show up in this world to love, serve, and create. Americans are blessed to live in a country that gets stronger the more we protect fundamental rights, like informed consent and privacy, so individuals and families can thrive.”

Mary Katherine LaCroix

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT AND NONPROFIT ADMINISTRATION

Mary Katherine LaCroix became involved with SHF as a volunteer in 2019 when the religious exemption for childhood vaccines was at risk in her home state of New Jersey. She believes strongly that parents have the responsibility for their children’s health, education, and faith formation and that only they have the right to make medical decisions and manage their care.

She has worked in fundraising for more than 25 years at various educational, cultural, human services, and political organizations. A graduate of the University of Scranton, she holds a degree in History and English Literature.

Mary Katherine is thrilled to have this opportunity to work with and help grow SHF, believing that together we can achieve even greater impact in protecting our rights and caring for our loved ones. She enjoys spending time with her husband, two children and large extended family, as well as volunteering to support the special needs community.

“Parents are taught that they must trust the experts. That’s what we did, until we learned that the experts can be wrong and don’t always know what is best for your child. Parents should instead feel empowered by their natural, God-given ability to advocate and care for their children. SHF is here to give them the tools to do just that.”

Sheila Ealey

Political Analyst

Dr. Sheila Lewis Ealey is the founder and former director of the Creative Learning Center of Louisiana, a therapeutic day school for children who are on the autism spectrum or struggling with other nonverbal intellectual disabilities. The wife of a former U.S. Coast Guard Officer, she is also the mother of four children. Her son was diagnosed with severe autism spectrum disorder at 18 months. He is now a young man and considered moderate and emerging.

Sheila and her twins were featured in the documentary “Vaxxed.” She has traveled extensively, advocating for medical freedom. She continues to educate disenfranchised parents about their fundamental rights to religious and philosophical exemptions, their ability to live sustainably on a limited budget, and the importance of nutrition and biomedical interventions for optimum health with autism. She also writes individual homeschool curriculums for parents of children with autism or intellectual disorders. Sheila is a trustee for the Autism Trust, USA, and on the board of directors of Children’s Health Defense.

Over the past 20 years, she has educated herself to use natural healing modalities for the body and brain. Her formal education includes degrees in communication, special education curriculum, and a doctorate in Educational Leadership in Special Education. Sheila serves as an assistant content advisor and political analyst for SHF.

“It is not the Constitution’s job to protect our liberties, as it is not a philosophical document but a legal one. Its purpose is to limit the powers and authority of our federal government in hopes of preventing an intrusion upon our unalienable rights. We are obliged to maintain our government within its limits.”

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