Join us for the launch of the “Caribbean Public Health Law Forum” on Wednesday, 30 June 2021, from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm (Barbados time). 

The Caribbean Public Health Law Forum ('the Forum') is being jointly convened by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the Caribbean Court of Justice Academy for Law (CAFL), as the Caribbean’s first virtual network of Government officials, attorneys-at-law, public health personnel and other distinguished professionals, focused on the use of law to tackle public health challenges, notably noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and their risk factors.

In this official virtual launch of the Forum, members representing various regional and subregional organizations in health and/or law, civil society organizations , academia and Member States will discuss the significance of the Forum and its expected outcomes.

In the Caribbean, NCDs such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer and chronic respiratory diseases, along with their four shared risk factors of tobacco use, harmful use of alcohol, unhealthy diet and physical inactivity, remain leading causes of mortality, morbidity and disability. Law has been identified, both internationally and regionally in several mandates, as having a central role to play in addressing NCDs and their risk factors. The Forum is expected to accelerate implementation of public health measures which require legal and regulatory action, and enhance knowledge-sharing, capacity-building and cooperation across the Caribbean. Ultimately, the Forum envisages the emergence of a regional culture of using law to address public health issues.

How to participate

• DATE: Wednesday, 30 June 2021
• TIME: 11:00 am to 12:30 pm (Barbados time) [see time correspondence below]
• REGISTER: https://paho-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Zeut-WWPTF2wmQyLMup64g
  • After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with information on how to join the webinar.

Agenda

• 11:00 – 11:10 a.m. - Welcome and Opening Remarks 
  • Mr Dean Chambliss – Subregional Program Director, Office of the Subregional Program Coordination for the Caribbean, Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO)
  • The Hon. Mr. Justice Winston Anderson –  Judge of the Caribbean Court of Justice (JCCJ), Chairman of the CAFL
• 11:10 – 11:55  a.m. – Session 1: The relevance of the Caribbean Public Health Law Forum: Background, objectives and expected outcomes
  • Chair:
    • Dr. Anselm Hennis – Director, Department of Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health, Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO)
  • Panelists:
    • Dr. Ignacio Ibarra – Advisor, Health-related legislation, Office of the Legal Counsel (PAHO/WHO)
    • The Hon. Mr. Justice Winston Anderson – JCCJ, Chairman of the CAFL
    • Dr. Karen Gordon-Boyle – Programme Manager, Health Sector Development, Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat
    • Sir Trevor Hassell – President, Healthy Caribbean Coalition (HCC)
• 11:55  a.m. – 12:25  p.m. – Session 2: Successful experiences to the use of law to address NCD risk factors: Country experiences
  • Chair:
    • Nicole Foster – Deputy Dean UWI Cave Hill 
  • Panelists:
    • Netricia Miller – Attorney-at-law and Senior Assistant Attorney General, Jamaica
    • Joana Joseph Henry – Deputy Director of the Substance Abuse Advisory Council Secretariat, Department of Health and Wellness, Saint Lucia
    • Samantha Moitt – Chief Nutrition Officer and Noncommunicable Diseases Coordinator (Ag), Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment, Antigua and Barbuda
    • Joy Dublin – Crown Counsel, Ministry of Legal Affairs, Antigua and Barbuda
    • Jeniece St. Romain – Crown Counsel, Ministry of Legal Affairs, Antigua and Barbuda.
• 12:25 – 12:30 p.m. - Closing remarks
  • The Hon. Mr. Justice Winston Anderson –  JCCJ, Chairman of the CAFL

Time correspondence

•  8:00 am.– Los Angeles
•  9:00 pm. – Belmopan, Guatemala City, Mexico City, Managua, San José (CR), San Salvador, Tegucigalpa
• 11:00 am. – Bridgetown, Castries, Georgetown, Kingston, Nassau, Port of Spain, Washington DC
• 12:00 pm. – Brasilia, Paramaribo

For other cities, check the time in the following link

Note:

This event has been produced with the help of a grant managed by the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union) and funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies. The content of this event is the sole responsibility of the authors and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of The Union or the Bloomberg Philanthropies.