World Trade Organization (WTO) & World Health Organization (WHO)
The World Trade Organization (WTO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) are vital specialized multilateral institutions headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. The WTO, established on January 1, 1995, following the Marrakesh Agreement which replaced the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT 1947), establishes binding legal frameworks for international merchandise and services trade, intellectual property (TRIPS), and multilateral dispute settlement. The WHO, established on April 7, 1948 (commemorated annually as World Health Day), serves as the directing and coordinating authority on international public health. The WHO manages the International Health Regulations (IHR), coordinates global disease eradication campaigns (such as smallpox and polio), and declares Public Health Emergencies of International Concern (PHEIC).
Key Concepts & Examination Highlights
- The World Trade Organization (WTO) was officially established on January 1, 1995, by the Marrakesh Agreement, replacing GATT.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) constitution entered into force on April 7, 1948, a date now observed annually as World Health Day.
- The TRIPS Agreement (Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) under WTO sets minimum standards for intellectual property regulation globally.
- The World Health Assembly (WHA), meeting annually in Geneva, serves as the supreme decision-making body of the WHO.