June 4, 2021
Prime Minister SUGA Yoshihide
Foreign Minister MOTEGI Toshimitsu
Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry KAJIYAMA Hiroshi
Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare, TAMURA Norihisa

Request to the Government of Japan:
Support the waiver of intellectual property rights on COVID-19
Equal Health and Medical Access on COVID-19 for All!”
Japan Network
It has been more than a year since the WHO declaration of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Many efforts have been made,such as the development of vaccines and advances in diagnosis and treatment, and in some countries, the infection
is being controlled. On the other hand, COVID-19 continues to gain momentum on a global scale, with more than
400,000 new infections recorded per day in India due to the emergence of highly infectious mutants. As the saying
goes, "No one is safe, until everyone is safe," it is essential to control the infection worldwide and prevent thegrowth and spread of highly infectious and virulent mutant strains. To achieve this, it is crucial to deliver necessary
tools of prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, including vaccines, to the world in a prompt and equitable manner,and to build a resilient society that can cope with COVID-19 and other emerging pandemics, including bystrengthening health systems and preventing non-communicable diseases.
It has been more than half a year since the Republic of South Africa and India submitted a proposal to the World
Trade Organization (WTO) on 2nd October last year to exempt some of the intellectual property rights related toCOVID-19. By now, the number of co-sponsors of the proposal has increased to 62 countries, and more than halfof the member countries support the proposal. Many civil society organizations working in the field of health carein developing and emerging countries are also in favor of this proposal. The government of the United States ofAmerica, which had previously opposed the proposal, supported it on May 5 and expressed its strong desire toproceed with text-based negotiations. As a result, the European Union and other countries, which had maintained
their opposition to the proposal, are beginning to reconsider their stance.
We, the " Equal Health and Medical Access on COVID-19 for All!” Japan Network (hereinafter referred to as the"Japan Network") hereby requests the Japanese government to agree to the "waiver of some intellectual property
rights related to COVID-19" proposed by South Africa and other co-proposing countries at the WTO, and to actively
participate in the future negotiations. The reasons are as follows:

1.Existing measures have reached their limits due to the worsening COVID-19 crisis
The goal of the proposal is to end COVID-19 globally at the earliest time by increasing the production of vaccinesand new products related to COVID-19 to meet the global public health needs related to COVID-19. To this end, it
proposes to waive intellectual property rights related to COVID-19 prevention, diagnosis, and treatment
technologies, including vaccines, and promote technology sharing and cooperation so that more partners,
including developed and developing countries, can accelerate the production and supply of goods necessary for
COVID-19 prevention, diagnosis, and treatment on an equal basis.
The biggest problem is that global COVID-19 control measures under intellectual property rights, which have been
greatly strengthened and globalized since the 1990s, are facing limitations and are not able to respond to theworsening COVID-19 crisis caused by the emergence of mutant strains.

We commend the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator (ACT Accelerator) and its vaccine partnership, COVAX, forthe swift move toward its establishment and its achievement in the midst of this unprecedented crisis. We alsocommend the Japanese government for its active support to COVAX and other key ACT Accelerator organizations,and for holding the COVAX Vaccine Summit jointly with the GAVI Alliance on June 2.
However, according to COVAX's "Global Supply Forecast" (April 7, 2021), only 26% of the population of the target
countries will be supplied with vaccines by the end of 2021. In addition, the variety of vaccines COVAX can supply
is limited; actually a significant portion of its supply relies on AstraZeneca's vaccine (Covishield), which is produced
under license by the Serum Institute of India. The country, which has been hit by the extreme spread of mutatedstrains of the virus since March has now suspended vaccine exports, and COVAX's supply of vaccines to the worldis facing a major crisis.

2. Overcome the COVID-19 Crisis through the Temporary and Partial Waiver of Intellectual Property Rights
In light of this situation, it is imperative that, until COVID-19 is brought under control, the shackles of intellectual
property rights be lifted and technology sharing and cooperation be accelerated to diversify the types and supplyof vaccines. Without this, COVAX will not be able to continue to supply vaccines in a sustainable manner. To
overcome global COVID-19 crisis, it is also critical to go beyond the limit of procurement from COVAX and ensure
a rapid and equitable supply of vaccines on a global scale. Furthermore, it is crucial to promote the production ofvarious supplies necessary for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of COVID-19, including oxygen, which hasbecome a huge challenge in India, and therapeutic agents for which much knowledge has been obtained throughaccumulated clinical experience. The temporary and partial waiver of the intellectual property rights related to theprevention, diagnosis, and treatment of COVID-19, as well as the vaccine, is a starting point for meeting the global
public health needs to overcome the pandemic. Actually, the GAVI Vaccine Alliance, which is responsible for vaccine
supply within COVAX, has issued a statement welcoming the US decision to support IP Waiver1.
Until everyone is safe, no one is safe. With these words in mind, we hereby urge the Japanese government tosupport the "waiver of partial intellectual property rights related to COVID-19" proposed by the Republic of South
Africa and other co-proposing countries at the WTO, and to actively participate in the coming negotiations.
“Equal Health and Medical Access on COVID-19 for All!” Japan Network
Called by: (signees)
Pacific Asia Resource Center (PARC)
Asian Health Institute (AHI)
Africa Japan Forum (AJF)
Doctors without Borders Japan
Services for the Health in Asian/African Regions (SHARE)
People’s Health Movement Japan Circle
Japan Overseas Christian Medical Cooperation Service (JOCS)“Equal Health and Medical Access on COVID-19 for All! Japan Network” is a Japanese civil society network
established last November to advocate for global equitable access to prevention, diagnosis, treatment and careof COVID-19.
Contact: Secretariat, Africa Japan Forum (AJF)- Contact Persons: Masaki Inaba, Kaori Hirouchi- E-mail: ajf.globalhealth@gmail.com

1

UPDATE 1-GAVI welcomes Biden move on vaccines, urges U.S. manufacturers to transfer know-how (Reuters, 6th May 2021)

The Names of the Organizations that Signed on the Statement (June 4, 2021)
1. Japanese Organizations (33 organizations)
Asia Arsenic Network
Asia-Japan Women’s Resource Center
ayus: Network of Buddhists Volunteers on International Cooperation
Bridges in Public HealthCampaign for the Children of Palestine Japan
Christian Network for Peace -sticking to the Peace Constitution
Civic Institute for Civil Society
DOSANKO Community Health International
Fair Link LLC
Hokkaido NGO nettowaku kyougikai
Human Rights WatchInternational Women`s Year Liaison Group
Itabashi Peace Museum Campaign
Japan Civil Society Network on SDGs
Japan International Volunteer Center
Japan NGO Center for International Cooperation (JANIC)Japan-Nepal Female Education Association
MIE NPO Network Center
Nagoya NGO Center
Nagoya Young Women’ｓ Christian Association
National Women's Committee of the UN NGOs
Nationwide Network of Education Field Promoting Gender Equality
Okayama Communication Network of the World Conference on Women
Porepore SAKURA
Sasashima Support Center
SDGs network yamanashi
Space Allies
Together with Africa and Asia Association
TOKAI Civil Society Network
Wind of Citizens toward Uniting for Peace
Yokohama NGO NetworkZenkoku Tomo-no-Kai

2. Foreign Organizations (115 Organizations)GlobalRegionalNationalGlobal
GlobalGlobal Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP)FRONTLINE AIDS

GlobalGlobalHealth GAP (Global Access Project)
Independent freelancer individual named Hitesh BHATT-india

GlobalFrancophone Africa
Asia
Asia
Asia/PacificAsia/PacificAsia/PacificSouth Asia
South Asia
South East Asia/Pacific

Dalit NGO Federation Nepal/Asia Dalit Rights Forum
Yolse, Santé Publique et Innovation
Asia Catalyst
Fight Inequality Alliance, Asia
APCASO
Global Fund Advocates Network Asia-PacificAsia Pacific Network of People Living with HIV (APN+)South Asia Alliance for Poverty Eradication (SAAPE)South Asia Tax and Fiscal Justice Alliance (SATAFJA)
Health Action Inter3 National Asia Pacific (HAIAP)South East Asia/PacificAfghanistan

People's Health Movement (PHM) South East Asia & Pacific (SEAP)

Bangladesh

BhutanBrazilCambodia

Afghan NGOs Coordination Bureau (ANCB)Your Voice Organization
Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio & Communication
Unnayan Sangha (US)Unnayan Shahojogy Team (UST)
VOICE
Voluntary Association for Rural Development (VARD)
Lhak-Sam (Bhutan Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS: BNP+)
FoaespForum Maranhense das Respostas Comunitarias de Luta contra as ist
AIDS e Hepatites Virais
Associação Brasileira Interdisciplinar de AIDS (ABIA)
Giv (group for Life incentive)
Grupo de Trabalho Sobre Propriedade Intelectual GTPl
Kampong Cham 2 Regional Training Center for health
Khmer HIV/AIDS NGO Alliance (KHANA)Live & Learn Cambodia
Reproductive Health Association of Cambodia (RHAC)
Women Development Association (WDA)

Equador
Ghana

PHM / MSP-Latin America, Andean Subregion Coordination
AbibiNsroma Foundation

India

3 National Confederation of Dalit & Adivasi Organisations (NACDAOR)
Arunachal Health OrganizationCentre for Community Development
Ekam Foundation
GCAP
India STEM Foundation
Inter3 National Solidarity of Academic Freedom in India (Insaf)
ITIHAS
Kerala Sasthra Sahithya Parishath
Leadership of Environment and Development India (LEAD)
Leho-Ladakh Environment and Health Organization
NCPI+ 3 National Coilition of People Living with HIV in India

National

Participatory Action for Sustainable Development Organization
Rural development council
Surujmukhi Society for Health Peace and Development
Tamil Nadu Tribal Development Society
Women in Development Trust
Indonesia

DIAKONIA DEPARTEMENT HKBP
Indonesia AIDS Coalition
Indonesia Planned Parenthood Association
KRuHA - people's coalition for the right to water
Law Firm Siswopranoto, S.H., M.H. and Partner
Spiritia FoundationMalaysia

The Positive Indonesia Network
Positive Malaysian Treatment Access & Advocacy Group (MTAAG+)

Mauritius and Indian Islands

PT Foundation
Halley Movement Coalition

Mongolia
Myanmar
Nepal

PakistanPapua New Guinea
The Philippines

Centre for Human Rights and Development (CHRD), Mongolia
Youth for Health Center NGO
Alliance Myanmar (MAHAMATE Health Care Organization)
3 National Campaign for Sustainable Development Nepal
Finn Church Aid
HAMI Nepal Youth Foundation
Janahit Gramin Sewa Samittee (JGSS)Japan Study Center, Nepal
Nature and Bio-diversity Conservation Research Center
NGO Federation of Nepal
NLR Nepal
People's Health Movement Nepal
Sindhuli Integrated Development Service (SIDS Nepal), Sindhuli Nepal
Trisuli Plus Community Action Group
Vijaya Development Resource Center
Active Help organization
AIDS Awareness Society (AAS), Pakistan
Crofter Foundation
Development Strategies Associates
LIFE (Local Initiative for Empowerment) Alliance, Pakistan
Pakistan Development Alliance
Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum
Pakistan Fisherfolk ForumRASTI (Research, Advocacy & Social Training Institute)
Saibaan Development Organization
KP Advocacy Consortium Papua New Guinea
3 National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA) PhilippinesInc.
Action for Health Initiatives, Inc. (ACHIEVE)IDUCARE
Institute of Primary Health Care-Davao Medical School Foundation,
Inc.
Peace and Sustainable Development Movers, Inc.
Samahang Operasyong Sagip

National
Republic of Korea
Singapore
South Africa
Sri Lanka

Tambayan Center for Children's Rights, Incorporated
People's Health Movement (PHM) Korea
ONE (SINGAPORE)
Health and Justice Initiative (HJI)
National Fisheries Solidarity Movement
National Transgender Network Sri Lanka
Berendina Development Services
CARE Consortium Sri Lanka
Caritas Ratnapura Sethmini

Thailand
United Kingdom

United States
Viet Nam

Diversity and Solidarity Trust Sri Lanka
Human Development Organization
SERVE
Small Fishers federation of Sri Lanka (Sudeesa)
Young Out Here Sri Lanka
Institute of HIV Research and Innovation
Stopdrink Network
Oxfam Inter3 National
STOPAIDS
Health Poverty Action
Justice is Global
Center for Supporting Community Development Intiatives