Menu

Our policy work

Governments, schools, employers and health professionals all play a role in shaping our health environment. We believe by working together, we can make change happen.

“The Policy Advisory Group is a truly inclusive process for updating policy evidence.”

Dr Kate Allen, Executive Director, Science and Public Affairs, World Cancer Research Fund International

This year we established our Policy Advisory Group to help us respond to the needs of policymakers as they develop and implement policy to prevent cancer and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The group comprises international experts from government, academia and civil society, as well as observers from the World Health Organization (WHO) and Union for International Cancer Control (UICC).

In March, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued our guidelines on sugar consumption to encourage countries around the world to reduce the availability and affordability of sugar products. To complement this we produced our policy brief - Curbing Global Sugar Consumption - to help governments reduce the amount of sugar being consumed at a population level.

Later in the year, World Cancer Research Fund International was invited to advise on the priorities for WHO’s Commission on Ending Childhood Obesity. Since childhood obesity is a strong predictor of adult obesity, which we now know is linked to the increased risk of ten cancers, we strongly advocated for the inclusion of cancer in the report alongside other NCDs.

This year we established our Policy Advisory Group to help us respond to the needs of policymakers as they develop and implement policy to prevent cancer and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The group comprises international experts from government, academia and civil society, as well as observers from the World Health Organization (WHO) and Union for International Cancer Control (UICC).

In October 2014, along with other UK cancer organisations, we backed the Cancer: 2 Million Reasons campaign. With two million people now surviving a cancer diagnosis, the campaign urged all political parties to commit to improving research, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care for people affected by cancer today and in the future. 

We continue to work closely with the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) through their World Cancer Day Advisory Group. In 2015, World Cancer Day reached a record 10.7 billion people and we used this opportunity to highlight that whilst more people are now aware of cancer risk factors, too few are acting to avoid a diagnosis through lifestyle change.

“Overall awareness is not translating into better outcomes. Department of Health figures show that around two thirds of people are overweight or obese, only a minority of people get their five-a-day and we still consume too much salt, sugar and fat.”

Amanda McLean, Director, World Cancer Research Fund

Next Prev