The sixth meeting of the Global Leaders Group discusses the global response to antimicrobial resistance

The Global Leaders Group (GLG) on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) held its sixth (and first in-person) meeting in Barbados on February 7 and 8, hosted by the GLG Chair, Her Excellency Mia Amor Motley, Prime Minister of Barbados, at Sandals Royal Barbados, Bridgetown.

At the meeting, the GLG welcomed the appointment of its new Vice Chair, His Excellency Dr Chris Fearne, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health of Malta, and five new members, as well as the senior officials of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the United Nations Environment Program, the World Health Organization and the World Organisation for Animal Health (known as the Quadripartite).

At the meeting, the leaders discussed major challenges in the response to AMR and GLG priorities for the next two years, including the need for more sustainable financing, the role of the private sector, environmental dimensions of AMR, strengthening surveillance across sectors, research and development and the reinforcement of animal health systems. The GLG also discussed maintaining urgency, public support, political momentum and visibility of AMR challenges on the global development agenda.

A key focus of the meeting was to begin GLG planning for the second United Nations General Assembly High-level Meeting on AMR, scheduled for 2024, at which the GLG will press for bold and specific commitments from member states to tackle the growing threats of antimicrobial resistance.

The GLG is comprised of 21 members including political leaders and experts from the human, animal and plant health and environmental sectors and promotes a multisectoral response to AMR based on a One Health approach.