FIFTY-FIRST WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY Agenda item 28
WHA51.23 16 May 1998
Amendments to Articles 24 and 25 of the Constitution The Fifty-first World Health Assembly, Considering that the membership of the Executive Board should be increased from 32 to 34, so that the number of Members in the European Region and Western Pacific Region entitled to designate a person to serve on the Executive Board be increased to eight and five, respectively, 1. ADOPTS the following amendments to Articles 24 and 25 of the Constitution, the texts in the Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish languages being equally authentic: Article 24 - Delete and replace by The Board shall consist of thirty-four persons designated by as many Members. The Health Assembly, taking into account an equitable geographical distribution, shall elect the Members entitled to designate a person to serve on the Board, provided that, of such Members, not less than three shall be elected from each of the regional organizations established pursuant to Article 44. Each of these Members should appoint to the Board a person technically qualified in the field of health, who may be accompanied by alternates and advisers. Article 25 - Delete and replace by These Members shall be elected for three years and may be re-elected, provided that of the Members elected at the first session of the Health Assembly held after the coming into force of the amendment to this Constitution increasing the membership of the Board from thirty-two to thirty-four the term of office of the additional Members elected shall, insofar as may be necessary, be of such lesser duration as shall facilitate the election of at least one Member from each regional organization in each year. 2. DECIDES that two copies of this resolution shall be authenticated by the signatures of the President of the Fifty-first World Health Assembly and the Director-General of the World Health Organization, of which one copy shall be transmitted to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, depositary of the Constitution, and one copy retained in the archives of the World Health Organization;
WHA51.23
3. DECIDES that the notification of acceptance of these amendments by Members in accordance with the provisions of Article 73 of the Constitution shall be effected by the deposit of a formal instrument with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, as required for acceptance of the Constitution by Article 79(b) of the Constitution.
Tenth plenary meeting, 16 May 1998 A51/VR/10
=
=
=
2