What is cancer control advocacy?

Cancer control advocacy is the strategic process of influencing governments, decision-makers and other key stakeholders to develop commitments, plans and policies, and allocate the resources needed to drive change.

Investing in cancer control, from prevention to treatment and care, can deliver urgently needed reductions in cancer-related illness and death.

It is estimated that increased annual international funding of USD 18 billion globally on prevention, earlier detection and improved care for cancer patients could save three million lives per year by 2030 - and many more in the decades beyond. 

At the global level, UICC works with the cancer community to call for actions to reduce the global cancer burden, promote greater equity, and integrate cancer control into the world health and development agenda. UICC advocates for the development and adoption of international commitments and targets, and provides the tools and guidance to support members in shaping their own national advocacy efforts.

UICC's central advocacy goal is for governments around the world to implement the 2017 cancer resolution adopted at the World Health Assembly (WHA 70.12) and meet the global targets contained in the Global Action Plan on NCDs, the Sustainable Development Goals and the World Cancer Declaration.  

UICC works across the policy cycle to help bring together the evidence base for effective cancer control, develop tools to support national advocacy and share examples of successful policy change.

Woman holding a publication open with the title "How do we think the governments should respond?"

In 2020, an estimated 10 million people died prematurely from cancer. It is expected that by 2030, this number will rise to nearly 13 million. This alarming trend can be reversed with strong action at global and national levels. 

WHA69 - UICC Side Event on Cancer Control

The past decade has seen the creation of a global framework to drive improvements in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care for cancer patients and people living with other NCDs. UICC is proud to have been an active partner in this process.

Maira Caleffi speaking at the World Cancer Congress 2022

A tool which aims to help policy makers and cancer and NCD advocates build understanding about the links between international time bound commitments and priority actions for national impact.

Flags in front of the United Nations building in Geneva, Switzerland

UICC aims to advance cancer control on a large scale to improve the lives of millions of people across the world

Last update

Tuesday 17 January 2023

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