Health and Human Rights - The role of law in addressing the chronic disease pandemic

By: GHLG, ncdandlaw rug.nl

Why are non-communicable diseases (NCDs) a legal issue? How far can a government go to protect public health? These are just two of the big questions that we will be asking in the 2019 GHLG summer school.

This year the summer school will focus on understanding the role of international law in addressing the global increase in NCDs, including cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes. The course will take human rights as a starting point and address key focus areas including, securing equitable access to essential medicines, as well as possibilities to regulate behavioral risk factors, in particular smoking and unhealthy diets.

The summer school will be taught by a multidisciplinary group of experts working in the field including, various legal and medical scholars and representatives from civil society organizations. This multidisciplinary selection of speakers will illustrate the various relevant fields and actors in preventing and treating NCDs. Participants will be asked to actively engage with the material presented through group work exercises and presentations.

In addition to the classroom environment, the summer school also includes a welcome city tour and welcome drinks that will allow you to see some of the beautiful city of Groningen as well as meet other summer school participants. Additionally, in line with the theme of healthy eating, we will also host a cooking workshop that will encourage participants to consider applying what they discover in the classroom to their own lives. Moreover, as is tradition, a dinner with the Global Health Law Groningen Research Centre Members and Fellows will be organized in order for participants interested in continuing research or work in this field to meet with experts who will be happy to discuss and advise based on their experiences.

In light of the multidisciplinary background of the speakers, the summer school is open to  Bachelor or Master students studying medicine, law, and health sciences with a keen interest in health and human rights, early career researchers in these areas, law and policy practitioners and civil society representatives working in the field of (global) health governance who aim to learn more on how to use law as a normative framework and regulatory tool. If you do not fall into one of these categories feel free to inquire if your background and interest will be well suited for participation in the summer school.

Ultimately, after completing the summer school, participants will have an enhanced understanding of how international law and human rights are relevant for effective regulation and how they influence domestic law. They will also gain insight on how a global and domestic response can best be defined and implemented and current challenges being faced.

The draft program and more information about the summer school can be found at https://www.rug.nl/education/summer-winter-schools/summer_schools_2019/health_human_rights/.

Applications are currently being accepted and the deadline for applications is 1 May. However, we encourage interested participants to apply early. If you have any additional questions please contact us at ncdandlaw rug.nl. We look forward to receiving your applications!