News and updates

Reflections on the 2nd WHO Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health: There are few things more important to life than the air we breathe. Yet almost nobody on the planet has access to clean air - 99% of the world live somewhere where the air fails to meet the World Health Organization’s air quality standards, and air pollution kills more than 7 million people each year. Read more >: Laws for clean air will save lives

Human rights law recognises that cancer prevention protects and promotes our right to health. Suzanne Zhou, from the McCabe Centre for Law and Cancer and member of the WCRF Policy Advisory Group, explains how and why cancer prevention advocates must engage with this body of law to maximise the co-benefits of human rights and cancer prevention policies in this piece for World Cancer Research Fund. Read more >: Putting human rights at the heart of cancer prevention

How do gender dynamics shape cancer prevention, treatment, and care? UICC’s new 9-week online course explores this critical issue, offering insights from the Lancet Commission on women, power and cancer. This new course covers the influence of gender dynamics in cancer prevention, treatment, and care -and how to advocate for change. Read more >: Women, power and cancer - implementing the Lancet Commission's recommendations

After over 16 years of dedicated service to the McCabe Centre for Law and Cancer and Cancer Council Victoria, we extend our deepest gratitude to Sondra Davoren, as she leaves the McCabe Centre and takes up a new role as Senior Legal Counsel at Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora. Read more >: Thank you Sondra Davoren: a tribute to her time at the McCabe Centre and Cancer Council Victoria

At the McCabe Centre for Law & Cancer, we’ve always believed in the power of the law and its effectiveness to prevent and control cancer. And for over a decade, our International Legal Training Program (ILTP) has been equipping legal and policy professionals with the skills to drive real change. Read more >: Empowering legal change for noncommunicable diseases: the impact of our International Legal Training Program

Kenya is stepping up its efforts to protect their communities by introducing new public health graphic health warnings on tobacco products. Read more >: Kenya steps up efforts in tobacco health warnings to better inform the public

Earlier this week our McCabe Centre team presented at a VCCC Alliance webinar to spotlight the experiences of people affected by cancer and to advocate for carer rights to be better adopted in Australian and Victorian law and policy. Read more >: Caring for our cancer carers webinar

This week’s WHO Western Pacific webinar explored two decades of progress in tobacco control in the region and the urgent challenges ahead. Read more >: Two decades of action in tobacco control in the Western Pacific

This treaty has changed millions of lives, helping to reduce tobacco use, protect communities, and prevent countless diseases. Read more >: Today, we celebrate 20 years of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) - a landmark achievement in global health!

Last week, the McCabe Centre had the privilege of attending the 4th Global NCD Alliance Forum on 13-15 February, in Kigali, Rwanda - an inspiring gathering of advocates, experts, and changemakers committed to tackling non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Read more >: Powerful catalyst toward the UN High Level meeting on NCDs – McCabe Centre at the NCD Alliance Forum

The Netflix series “Apple Cider Vinegar”, which loosely follows the story of Australian wellness blogger and con-woman Belle Gibson, is reigniting discussions about the peddling of false cancer cure claims and highlights the need for stronger protections against health misinformation. Read more >: Apple Cider Vinegar: how Netflix’s new series revives the debate on health misinformation and fake cancer cures

World Cancer Day is a reminder for us all to come together to take action against cancer. ​Cancer touches millions of lives in countless ways but it doesn't define them. People are more than a disease, more than a statistic. ​Behind every cancer diagnosis is a unique human story - stories of resilience, grief, hope, and healing. Read more >: Together, we are turning the tide on cancer worldwide

Last week, the McCabe Centre for Law and Cancer, which hosts the Knowledge Hub on legal challenges, was invited by the WHO Country Office in Mongolia and WHO WPRO to present at a Tobacco Control Meeting and Technical Workshop (27-28 January), to inform Mongolia about various aspects of tobacco control as they embark on the amendments to the Tobacco Control Act and strengthen tobacco taxation. Read more >: The McCabe Centre for Law and Cancer, which hosts the Knowledge Hub on legal challenges

We’re excited to announce that we’ve received $316K of funding from the Victorian Legal Services Board + Commissioner’s Grants Program, to address the complex legal and financial issues that arise for people affected by cancer, families, and carers. The two-year project is funded through the Legal Services Board Grants Program. Read more >: Exciting Announcement: McCabe Centre of Law & Cancer receives grant from Victorian Legal Services Board + Commissioner

Tobacco industry interference is the greatest barrier to progress in reducing tobacco’s deadly impact. So, it was fitting that this was a key theme of three concurrent tobacco control meetings organised by the Convention Secretariat and the WHO FCTC Knowledge Hub on Article 5.3, in Bangkok, Thailand, in November 2024. Read more >: Tackling tobacco industry interference: a key issue at the Seventh Meeting of WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) Knowledge Hubs