H.5. Round Table: How to use human rights-based advocacy and legal action to advance public health
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Background In many areas of public health policy, legal action has delivered significant and long-lasting impacts. Notable successes include increased access to treatments for HIV and other essential medicines, and policy wins regarding tobacco products, electronic cigarettes and opioid-based products. Public health professionals are keen to learn if and how legal action can be used to advance public health goals in different contexts. Every country’s context and legal system is different, yet common principles can be applied. These include engagement with civil society organisations and affected communities in advocacy for changes in policies, laws and practices, an understanding of the policy- and decision-making environment, and collaboration with legal experts who can advise on the opportunities and limits of legal action. Potential applications include infectious and non-communicable diseases, child poverty and exploitation, sexual and gender minority health and discrimination, violence against women, and commercial determinants of health, including relating to climate change. Workshop Objectives Increase participants’ knowledge and skills regarding the use of human rights-based legal action and advocacy to advance public health. Outcomes After the workshop participants will be able to (i) give examples of how advocacy and legal action have been used to address specific public health issues and risk factors; (ii) list success factors in advocacy and legal action to advance public health; (iii) apply the knowledge gained to specific public health issues of concern to them. Participants will be invited to reflect on priorities in existing and emerging challenges, their own capacity-building needs, and suggest opportunities for further capacity building on human right-based advocacy and legal action to advance public health. Workshop Outline Introduction and Presentations Lessons from advocacy and legal action in the HIV pandemic Lessons advocacy and legal action in response to climate change Skills for advocacy and policy engagement Plenary discussion What factors determine the success or otherwise of advocacy for public health issues? How can these lessons be applied to other public health challenges? What is missing from the approaches studied? What public health professional capacities need to be (better) developed? How? Key messages • Public health professionals can use advocacy and legal action to advance public health goals. Every country’s context and legal system is different yet common principles can be applied. • Effective advocacy requires carefully-planned strategic action which identifies targets, tactics, and envisions longer-term policy engagement for sustainable change. Speakers/Panellists Monique Van Cauwenberghe University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands Leigh Haynes Ghent University, Brussels, Belgium David Patterson Centre for Health Law, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
Authors: Farhang Tahzib, Andreea Badache
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,181
OpenAlex ID: W7223682277