Health

SARS and International Law

The outbreak of a new infectious disease-Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)-in Asia and its spread to many countries in the Asian region and beyond raise many public health and policy questions and challenges for governments, international organizations, and non-governmental organizations. The SARS outbreak also implicates international law, and this Insight briefly discusses three areas of international law affected by SARS and the efforts to contain the spread of the disease.
 
Basic Information on the SARS Epidemic
 
Topic: 
Volume: 
8
Issue: 
7
Author: 
David P. Fidler
Image: 

World Health Organization's Framework Convention for Tobacco Control

Introduction
In late May 2003, the World Health Assembly of the World Health Organization (WHO) will consider adoption of the Framework Convention for Tobacco Control (FCTC). The Intergovernmental Negotiating Body agreed on the proposed FCTC in early March 2003 and transmitted the treaty to the World Health Assembly. [1] The FCTC represents the first time in WHO's history that it has exercised its powers to adopt a treaty under Article 19 of its Constitution. [2] The FCTC is an important international legal development in the area of global public health.
Topic: 
Volume: 
8
Issue: 
6
Author: 
David P. Fidler
Image: 
Related Terms / Attribute Tags: 

Public Health and “Counterfeit” Medicines: The Role of the World Health Organization

Introduction

The normative and policy-setting functions of the World Health Organization (“WHO”) have been substantially influenced by the differences of opinion within WHO’s membership about the impact of trade and intellectual property (“IP”) rules on public health. In particular, WHO members differ as to the organization’s role in addressing the perceived failure of the pharmaceutical market to generate safe and affordable medicines for diseases predominantly affecting developing countries.

Topic: 
Volume: 
17
Issue: 
2
Author: 
Gian Luca Burci
PDF Version: 
Image: 

European Court of Human Rights Rules Against Norway in Deep Sea Divers Dispute (December 5, 2013)

Author: 
Steven Arrigg Koh

On December 5, 2013, a Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights ruled by majority in Vilnes