McCabe Centre for Law & Cancer

Despite unprecedented challenges in 2020, the McCabe Centre for Law & Cancer was able to adapt and expand its global impact.

The transition of the International Legal Training Program into an online and virtual format enabled the McCabe Centre to reach more stakeholders than ever in support of its mission. More than 200 lawyers, policymakers and civil society representatives attended McCabe Centre’s virtual courses and workshops, which incorporated new content on COVID-19 and NCDs. McCabe Centre staff also contributed to UICC’s online Master course on patient engagement.

An increased focus on online engagement helped the McCabe Centre support its growing network of alumni, based in 70 countries, to advance cancer control laws, including new laws passed in Malaysia, Nigeria and The Gambia. Meanwhile, as the WHO FCTC Knowledge Hub on Legal Challenges, the McCabe Centre hosted workshops and published papers including the WTO Appellate Body’s decision upholding Australia’s tobacco plain packaging laws. The McCabe Centre also published a report on Multisectoral coordination to address NCDs through law as part of its work as a WHO Collaborating Centre.

The McCabe Centre was proud to be recognised for its efforts to use law in addressing cancer. Notably, the team won a 2020 UN Inter-Agency Task Force on the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases (UNIATF) Award and Rachel Kitonyo Devotsu, Regional Manager for Africa, won a World No Tobacco Day 2020 Award. mccabecentre.org