The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the critical role of law in preparing for and responding to health emergencies. It has tested the capacity of domestic legal frameworks and revealed the shortcomings and opportunities for strengthening in all countries across the Western Pacific Region. There is a unique opportunity to identify lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic and harness the attention on legal frameworks for health emergencies to strengthen legal preparedness and response for the future and contribute to broader health system strengthening in the process.

The Forum on COVID-19 and Law is a WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific event, hosted with the support of the University of Melbourne. It will bring together partners and experts at a regional and country level to share experiences and discuss future actions and directions for strengthening legal preparedness and response in the Region.