Original article (in Croatian) was published on 29/5/2025; Author: Ladislav Tomičić
The World Health Organization’s pandemic agreement does not establish a global police force, nor does it allow the WHO to impose measures such as lockdowns or mandatory vaccinations on member states.
Social media users (archived here) have recently been spreading claims that “the World Health Organization’s pandemic treaty allows for the arrest of disobedient citizens by a global police force.”
“Critics say the newly signed WHO pandemic treaty enables the arrest of ‘non-compliant’ citizens by a global police force”, reads an image shared in a Facebook post published on May 24 by a page named “Free from Birth.”
The same claim was published by the fringe website Epoha, known for spreading disinformation. In an article posted on the same day, the headline reads: “Critics say the newly signed WHO pandemic treaty allows for the arrest of ‘non-compliant’ citizens by a global police force.”
The WHO Cannot Impose Measures on Sovereign States
However, it is not true that this agreement enables a global police force to arrest citizens. The so-called Pandemic Agreement adopted by World Health Organization member states on May 20 does not provide for the establishment of any global law enforcement body.
As stated on the WHO’s official website, the agreement is intended to “strengthen global collaboration to ensure a more robust and equitable response to future pandemics.”
“Nothing in the WHO Pandemic Agreement shall be interpreted as granting the WHO Secretariat, including the Director-General, the authority to direct, mandate, alter, or otherwise prescribe national and/or domestic laws or policies of any party. Nor can it require or otherwise impose obligations on countries to take specific actions, such as restricting or accepting travelers, implementing mandatory vaccinations, or enforcing lockdowns”, reads the WHO’s official statement.
Instead, the agreement sets out guiding principles, strategies, and tools for better international coordination in areas such as equitable and timely access to vaccines, therapies, and diagnostics.
The Treaty Makes No Mention of Police or Arrests
The full text of the treaty, available on the WHO’s website, contains no mention of national police forces, coordinated arrests of non-compliant citizens, or the existence of any so-called “global police.” These claims are part of a broader conspiracy theory portraying the WHO as a tool for establishing global government.
This narrative isn’t new. Last year, similar claims circulated linking the WHO to mass arrests in connection with the bird flu outbreak. At the time, Reuters debunked the theory in an article dated April 24, 2024, titled: “WHO Member States Have Not Agreed to Arrest Citizens Opposing Bird Flu Measures”.
In conclusion, the WHO’s Pandemic Agreement does not authorize the arrest of citizens by a global police force. The treaty makes no reference to such measures, nor can such an interpretation be reasonably inferred from its content.
