The \u3cem\u3eLancet\u3c/em\u3e–O’Neill Institute/Georgetown University Commission on Global Health and Law: The Power of Law to Advance the Right to Health

The Lancet–O’Neill Institute/Georgetown University Commission on Global Health and Law published its report on the Legal Determinants of Health in 2019. The term ‘legal determinants of health’ draws attention to the power of law to influence upstream social and economic influences on population health. In this article, we introduce the Commission, including its background and rationale, set out its methodology, summarize its key findings and recommendations and reflect on its impact since publication. We also look to the future, making suggestions as to how the global health community can make the best use of the Commission’s momentum in relation to using law and legal tools to advance population health

Introduction: Researching Democracy and Social Change with Violence in the Foreground

There are many studies of violence within specific fields of the social sciences, but the next stage in our evolving understanding of violence may lie with interdisciplinary approaches. By traversing traditional academic categories, violence as a variable may become more visible in its multiple modes. It is through our ability to see the linkages between interpersonal, cultural, collective, political, state, interstate and structural violences that we can gain a better understanding of its persistence in human interactions. Researchers for this IDS Bulletin set out not only to understand contemporary dynamics of violence, but also to work with people trapped in violent places, spaces and histories who were willing to talk about and act upon their situation. Researching violence in an interactive way with those living in the thick of it posed many ethical, safety, epistemological and methodological challenges. These are documented in this IDS Bulletin alongside findings on the dimensions and impact of violence in different contexts

Using regulation to limit salt intake and prevent non-communicable diseases : lessons from South Africa's experience

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the policy process for the South African regulation setting upper limits for salt in thirteen commonly consumed food categories, to inform future policy action for prevention of non-communicable diseases. DESIGN: Semi-structured interviews (n 10) were conducted with key stakeholders from government, academia, non-governmental organisations and the food industry. Interviewees were asked about the content, context, process and actors involved in developing the regulation. Data were analysed according to Walt and Gilson’s health policy analysis triangle. SETTING: South Africa. PARTICIPANTS: Key actors and stakeholders in the policy process to develop the salt regulation. RESULTS: The regulation was a response to research establishing the effectiveness of food supply interventions and to a shared perception that government regulation was the quickest way to address the problem of salt overconsumption. While the regulations were developed through a consultative process, food industry stakeholders perceived the consultation as inadequate. Implementation is currently underway, supported by a health promotion programme. Monitoring and enforcement were identified as the most likely challenges due to capacity constraints. CONCLUSIONS: Comprehensive mandatory salt limits are an innovative approach to food reformulation. Factors that enabled regulation included robust scientific evidence, strong political and bureaucratic leadership, and the pragmatic use of existing regulatory instruments. The main challenges identified were disagreement over the appropriate nature and extent of food industry participation, and monitoring and enforcement challenges due to capacity constraints.Australian Postgraduate Award, Sydney Law School and the Charles Perkins Centre at the University of Sydney, Department of Science and Technology (DST), National Research Foundation (NRF) South African Research Chairs Initiative(SARChl).https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/public-health-nutritionpm2020Animal and Wildlife Science

The legal determinants of health: harnessing the power of law for global health and sustainable development.

Law affects global health in multiple ways, by structuring, perpetuating, and mediating the social determinants of health. 2 Although law has been central to major public health achievements in the past, its capacity to advance global health with justice remains substantially underutilised, particularly among professionals in the fields of health and science. 3 The right to health, a legally binding norm, provides a foundation for advancing global health with justice and should underpin health-related legal reforms. 4 Every human being has a right to affordable, high quality health services. By embedding equity and accountability in all health systems, the law and the rule of law can achieve health coverage that is truly universal—delivering the Sustainable Development Goals’ promise to leave no one behind. 5 Although the ability to enforce compliance with international legal obligations is generally limited, and largely dependent on power dynamics and political will, creative mechanisms can foster compliance and help establish impetus for action. 6 Law can address the pressing health concerns of the 21st century, across diverse areas. From tobacco control, non-communicable diseases, and road safety, to health emergencies, law can implement fair, evidence-based interventions to save lives. The global health community should champion evidence-based legal interventions and build the research case for legal action. 7 Laws that stigmatise or discriminate against marginalised populations are especially harmful and exacerbate health disparities. The global health community must oppose laws that undermine the right to health and to equity. 8 To realise the full potential of law to advance global health with justice, the global health community should build legal capacity and establish a sustained dialogue with legislators, regulators, judges, civil society, and researchers

Australia\u27s health 2002 : the eighth biennial report of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

Australia\u27s Health 2002 is the eighth biennial health report of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. It is the nation\u27s authoritative source of information on patterns of health and illness, determinants of health, the supply and use of health services, and health service costs and performance. Australia\u27s Health 2002 is an essential reference and information resource for all Australians with an interest in health

State-building, war and violence : evidence from Latin America

In European history, war has played a major role in state‐building and the state monopoly on violence. But war is a very specific form of organized political violence, and it is decreasing on a global scale. Other patterns of armed violence now dominate, ones that seem to undermine state‐building, thus preventing the replication of European experiences. As a consequence, the main focus of the current state‐building debate is on fragility and a lack of violence control inside these states. Evidence from Latin American history shows that the specific patterns of the termination of both war and violence are more important than the specific patterns of their organization. Hence these patterns can be conceptualized as a critical juncture for state‐building. While military victories in war, the subordination of competing armed actors and the prosecution of perpetrators are conducive for state‐building, negotiated settlements, coexistence, and impunity produce instability due to competing patterns of authority, legitimacy, and social cohesion

Legislating for the Prevention of Diet-Related Disease: The Emergence of Mandatory Nutrient Limits

Unhealthy diets are a major risk factor for non-communicable diseases (NCDs), the leading cause of death and disability worldwide. For population-level prevention, governments must scale up their use of mandatory policy interventions to tackle the supply-side determinants of unhealthy diets. However, for political, cultural, and technical reasons, governments have traditionally been reluctant to impose binding legal standards in this policy arena. Identifying variables that facilitate implementation of such policies is therefore a research priority. This thesis investigates mandatory nutrient limits, an emerging group of regulations that target food composition for NCD prevention. They have now been implemented in 30 national jurisdictions, but have received little scholarly attention. Using public health law, health policy, and regulatory scholarship, the thesis identifies factors and features that have enabled their emergence. The thesis finds that key factors at the institutional level were: robust local evidence, scientific leadership, and the support of political operatives, as seen in case studies of two jurisdictions, Denmark and South Africa. At the level of the regulations, mandatory nutrient limits repurpose a familiar form (food standards), to achieve a familiar purpose (food reformulation). Diverse stakeholders, including the food industry, have accepted mandatory nutrient limits with minimal controversy. Finally, factors in the international trade environment appear not to have hindered their emergence. This is the first in-depth study into the prevalence and regulatory features of a feasible, scalable, effective, and increasingly popular regulatory approach to addressing unhealthy diets – with the potential to inform further research and policy implementation. The research findings also prompt a reconsideration of some long-held assumptions about the role of both government regulation, and the food industry, in dietary change

Innovative and collaborative strategies to reduce population-wide sodium intake

The World Health Organization promotes salt reduction as a best-buy strategy to reduce chronic diseases, and member states have agreed to a 30 % reduction target in mean population salt intake by 2025. This systematic literature review identified a number of innovative population-level strategies, including promotion of a substitute for table salt, provision of a salt spoon to lower the amount used in home cooking and social marketing and consumer awareness campaigns on salt and health. In high-income nations, engagement with the food industry to encourage reformulation of processed foods-whether through voluntary or mandatory approaches-is key to salt reduction. Legislation of salt content in foods, although not widely adopted, can create concrete incentives and disincentives to meet targets and does not rely on individuals to change their behaviour. The important role of advocacy and lobbying to change the food supply is undisputed