Public health law

The Public Health Law and Policies Team (LAW) assists governments on legal issues, with a focus on modifiable risk factors for noncommunicable disease, such as tobacco use, harmful use of alcohol, unhealthy diet, and inadequate physical activity. The team offers a unique legal perspective, with expertise  across law and health, including NCD prevention, trade and investment law, commercial law and litigation, drawing on experiences from jurisdictions around the globe and in development of international norms.

LAW assists governments to develop new laws and regulations, such as by advising on the experience of other jurisdictions and how to minimize litigation risk, by reviewing and commenting on draft legislation and regulations, and assisting in legislative drafting.

The team assists governments to defend implementation of WHO guidance in the event of legal challenge, particularly where a government’s right to regulate to protect public health is questioned. Examples include providing background technical briefings on factual or legal issues, providing formal letters for presentation before courts and, in some instances, amicus briefs. 

LAW provides training and capacity building tailored to lawyers and policy focal points relating to specific health interventions or bodies of law.

The team also supports development of new international norms and standards within WHO and through engagement with other intergovernmental organizations.