AMR 2021 - Call to Action on Antimicrobial Restistance
Call to Action on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) - 2021
With the aim of strengthening One Health and multisectoral actions to tackle antimicrobial
resistance (AMR), learn from the COVID-19 pandemic to address the growing threat of AMR,
which has been referred to as a silent tsunami and deliver on the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development, we commit to the following actions at global, regional, and national
levels:
AMR coordination, accountability, and governance
1. Keep AMR high on the political agenda, build awareness and understanding, and
strengthen coordination, political leadership, and collaboration on AMR actions
through a One Health approach, joining efforts of Member States, the Tripartite
Plus (WHO, FAO, OIE, and UNEP), other relevant UN agencies, civil society, private
sector, academia, and research institutions.
2. Strengthen and accelerate implementation of previous commitments to tackle AMR
as included in the 2015 Global Action Plan on AMR, 2016 UN political declaration on
AMR, relevant resolutions of the governing bodies of the Tripartite Plus and other
organisations, and AMR national action plans.
3. Support effective implementation, as appropriate to national circumstances, of the
recommendations of the Inter Agency Coordination Group on AMR (IACG) to be led
by Member States with the assistance of the Tripartite Joint Secretariat and UNEP
through a defined process involving the One Health Global Leaders Group on AMR,
relevant UN agencies, and other key stakeholders in a comprehensive and
collaborative approach.
4. Actively engage with the Tripartite Joint Secretariat and One Health Global Leaders
Group, welcoming the ongoing efforts to establish the Independent Panel on
Evidence for Action Against AMR and the AMR partnership platform.
5. Support the strategic role and work of the One Health Global Leaders Group on AMR
in further enhancing global collaboration to tackle the growing threat of AMR.
AMR at country level and the SDGs
6. Address the growing global threat of AMR in all countries through a coordinated,
multisectoral, inclusive One Health approach to contribute to the achievement of the
2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, universal health coverage, and
strengthening of health systems and future pandemic prevention and preparedness.'
7. Encourage all Member States to have a multisectoral AMR national action plan, in
line with One Health, that is fully funded, implemented, and evaluated through
multisectoral coordination contributed to by appropriate focal points from human
health, animal health, the environment, and food production including through
engagement with academia, civil society, philanthropic organizations, and the private
sector.
8. Maintain and strengthen appropriate stewardship of antimicrobials, including in
COVID-19 patients, to avoid inappropriate use that may exacerbate AMR; in that
regard, maintain routine immunisation and effectively address the issues of equitable
vaccine distribution to help prevent infectious diseases, including COVID-19, and in
turn the urgent threat of AMR.
9. Engage in initiatives led by relevant international organisations to track and mitigate
AMR at the country, regional, and global levels, including global AMR surveillance
systems, annual country self-assessment surveys and guidance on effective
stewardship of antimicrobials.
10. Make tackling AMR an integral part of programmes addressing pandemic
preparedness, health systems strengthening, universal health coverage, the
environment, patient safety, infection prevention and control, promotion of
sustainable food systems, food safety and food security, and include AMR in countryled
UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks, and UN funds and
programmes strategic plans and countr programme documents, based on national
priorities, and country-led Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) of SDG
implementation, supporting effective reporting against the SDG3 indicator on AMR
adopted by the UN Statistical Commission, March 2020.
11. Strengthen effective and integrated AMR surveillance systems, addressing AMR in
infection prevention and control, stewardship, monitoring, regulatory frameworks,
enforcement; promote integrated target setting and share best practice, scientific
knowledge and technical assistance between countries and regions, upon their
request.
AMR financing
12. Work towards sufficient and sustainable funding for AMR-specific and AMR-sensitive
actions across One Health, including as part of Covid-19 recovery plans and achieving
universal health coverage including at country level, the Tripartite Plus
organisations, and other relevant UN and multilateral organisations, including the
AMR Multi Partner Trust Fund.
13. Support integrating AMR into the UN Financing for Development (FFD) agenda,
including through greater capacity building, for greater One Health and multisectoral
coherence and impact, and duly take into account the issue of AMR in development
investments.
14. Develop global and national economic studies, as appropriate, that account for
addressing AMR across One Health, incentivising and prioritising investment needs.
15. Develop and sustain strong partnerships with the relevant private sector, investors,
central and development banks, academia, and research institutions to tackle AMR
including by incentivising AMR financing, research and development, innovation and
equitable access.
AMR next steps
16. Continue to enhance national and global efforts to tackle AMR, and implement the
2015 Global Action Plan on AMR, 2016 UN political declaration on AMR, AMR
national action plans, and other commitments and initiatives in cooperation with the
Tripartite Plus, relevant UN agencies, the Global Leaders Group on AMR, and other
relevant key stakeholders through a comprehensive and collaborative approach.
17. Develop and implement a comprehensive and coordinated global advocacy and
communications strategy to tackle AMR, led by the Tripartite Plus and supported by
One Health global coordination structures, including the Global Leaders Group on
AMR, involving all relevant key partners.
18. Ensure a strong and relevant AMR focus as part of the work for the UN food systems
summit in 2021, UN high-level meeting on universal health coverage in 2023, and
other activities related to the Decade of Action to deliver the SDGs, and the 2021 UN
Climate Change Conference (COP26).
19. Evaluate implementation of these commitments on tackling AMR through ongoing
work of the Tripartite Plus, existing governance mechanisms of the Tripartite Plus
organisations, and sharing of best practice, challenges, and opportunities including in
the informal Group of Friends on Tackling AMR in New York.