Law’s power to safeguard global health: a Lancet–O’Neill Institute, Georgetown University Commission on Global Health and the Law

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2015

Abstract

The law-–global, national, and subnational–-plays a vital, yet often underappreciated, role in safeguarding and promoting the public’s health. In this article, we launch the Lancet-O’Neill Institute, Georgetown University Commission on Global Health and the Law. Commissioners from around the world will explore the critical opportunities and challenges of using law as a tool, while evaluating the evidence base for legal interventions. The Commission aims to define and systematically describe the current landscape of law that affects global health and safety.

Commissioners were chosen from disciplines that range from health, policy, and law to economics and governance. The Commission aims to present a compelling argument as to why law should be viewed as a major determinant of health and safety and how the law can be used in a powerful and innovative way to address the global burdens of injury and disease. Above all, the Commission will pursue justice, finding innovative ways to narrow existing and unconscionable health inequalities

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