Vicki Durston, Director of Policy and Advocacy at Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA), shared a post on LinkedIn:
“Important News!
In July, BCNA engaged with the Australian Mission to the UN to advocate for breast cancer to be explicitly recognised in the Political Declaration on NCDs and Mental Health.
A UN Political Declaration, adopted, represents a negotiated global commitment that sets strategic priorities for how Member States address non-communicable diseases through policy, investment and system reform.
Late last week, this has now translated into a clear outcome. The declaration was adopted – and breast cancer is explicitly called out. The prevention of Breast cancer is now elevated as a global priority.
This matters. Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer globally for women and the leading cause of cancer-related death among women worldwide, and without sustained action the burden will continue to grow, with breast cancer set to double by 2050, causing widening inequities and continued disparities.
Gender-neutral policy is not neutral in impact – it consistently leaves women behind. And when complexity is simplified for convenience, those already at risk are the first to be left out.
This outcome reflects the contribution of many working together – member states, civil society, policy experts, advocates, diplomats, and people with lived experience. We acknowledge Australia’s leadership, Sally, Neryl and Krystal from DFAT , Ariane from DoHA and Australian Ambassador to the UN James Larsen and the team at Australia House in New York, Minister Butler and Cancer Australia CEO Dorothy Keefe.
I would like to sincerely thank the team from the Institute of Cancer Policy Kings College, who worked with us at BCNA with support from the UICC, WHO GBCI, ABC Global Alliance Lancet, Cambridge and advocates from around the world including the Phillipines, New Zealand, Canada, Egypt. Africa and Portugal.
This is an important step. The focus now is delivery – strengthening systems, and ensuring commitments translate into real change.
When global challenges tested leadership, some of the countries we have long looked to, did not step forward. Australia did – speaking clearly to why breast cancer had to be explicitly recognised. A moment to be proud.
See the UN NCD & Mental Health Political Declaration here.
See Institute of Cancer Policy and BCNAs advocacy paper informing the change needed here.”
More posts featuring Vicki Durston on OncoDaily.
