Law and Cancer workshop a big success

The first of its kind for the global cancer community, the workshop, which took place from 10 February to 7 March 2014 at the Cancer Council Victoria in Melbourne, Australia, was conducted in collaboration with the Secretariat to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, and the WHO Western Pacific and African Regional Offices, provided intensive training on ‘law and cancer’ issues, primarily to government lawyers from low- and middle-income countries. The course covered legal issues across the cancer continuum from prevention to treatment and supportive care, with a focus on regulating risk factors, particularly tobacco use through the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

Presenters included McCabe Centre staff, other Cancer Council Victoria staff, and leading academic experts. The workshop provided participants with new in-depth technical legal knowledge, tactical and strategic insights, and networks of information-sharing and mutual support that will empower them in their day-to-day work.

27 government and NGO representatives from 22 countries participated: Botswana, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Cook Islands, Fiji, Georgia, Ghana, Lesotho, Malaysia, New Zealand, Niue, Norway, Palau, Philippines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Togo, and Vietnam.

The workshop was primarily supported by grants from the Australian Government and UICC. Support was also received from the WHO FCTC Secretariat, the WHO Western Pacific and African Regional Offices, a program for FCTC implementation in the Western Pacific Region funded by Cancer Council Australia and the National Heart Foundation of Australia, and the Bloomberg Philanthropies.

The workshop was very highly evaluated by the participants. It is expected that it will become a regular event and one of the McCabe Centre’s flagship programmes.