Advocacy Toolkit from the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC)

This toolkit aims to respond to some of the challenges for cancer advocates in influencing change in public perception, practice, and policy. UICC created it based on the belief that "[i]t is essential that the promises made by governments in the UN [United Nations] Political Declaration on NCDs [non-communicable diseases] be turned into action for people affected by cancer. Understanding these promises, how they can be used in cancer advocacy and communicating these messages to government and the media are key to ensuring that momentum is not lost in taking action at country, regional and global levels." The Political Declaration promotes:

• Improved access to services for prevention, treatment, palliation, and rehabilitation particularly at the community level;
• Increased access to affordable, safe, effective, and quality medicines; and
• The production, training, and retention of health workers with a view to facilitating adequate deployment of a skilled health workforce.

The toolkit, which is designed to include concrete, practical guidance, is grouped into 3 sections:

1. Key advocacy messages:
   • A guide to understand how the Political Declaration of the 2011 UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs aligns with the targets of the World Cancer Declaration
   • How to get involved in global cancer advocacy - example action point: "Use UICC template letters, press releases and evidence sheets when organising strategic meetings, press conferences, and public awareness raising events to raise the profile of cancer and highlight our key messages."
   • A visual guide to assist with presentation of key messages
2. A series of practical tools to guide advocacy:
   • How to work with media - example action point: "Working with the media is about building relationships and establishing yourself as an expert in a given field by bringing credentials, experience and reliability to the story."
   • How to influence your government
   • How to build an advocacy plan
3. A series of 15 "evidence sheets" that summarise the supporting data for actions that are aligned with achieving the World Cancer Declaration targets. The purpose is to help advocates meet the challenge of convincing governments that proven cost-effective solutions exist to reduce the cancer burden. For example, one evidence sheet focuses on HPV (human papillomavirus) and Cervical Cancer, with a focus on implementation of HPV vaccination programmes.

The resource concludes with a bibliography of materials referred to in the toolkit.

UICC indicates that people who would like to discuss the contents of this toolkit or suggest additional tools, skills, and strategies may contact advocacy@uicc.org

Click here to download the 60-page resource in PDF format.