The Power of Law part II. Presenting PAF’s Guidelines for Legal Action for NGOs

Webinar, 27. January 2022

Webinar: Presenting guidelines for NGOs that are considering possible legal action against pharmaceutical companies which are not respecting their human rights responsibilities.

The Pharmaceutical Accountability Foundation (PAF; in Dutch: Farma ter Verantwoording) aims to promote equitable, affordable access to medicines. Pharmaceutical companies say they respect the UN Business and human rights principles. But in their GCCP project and scorecard PAF has found mixed results in the implementation of these responsibilities. In a recent series of webinars PAF analysed the power of law in getting access to medicines, featuring examples of NGOs taking such action (International Treatment Preparedness Coalition, Treatment Action Campaign, Medicines Law & Policy, Médecins Sans Frontières). Based on these real-life examples and their experiences PAF developed a set of guidelines for NGOs that are considering possible legal action against pharmaceutical companies which are not respecting their human rights responsibilities.

The Guidelines for Legal Action by NGOs will be sent to attendees before the event.

In this webinar we want to walk you through the guidelines, illustrated with more examples of how the power of law has been used to achieve access to medicine. We will discuss the idea that in addition to publishing, discussing, or campaigning, legal action could be an additional tool for NGOs in the fight for Access to Medicines.

The presentations will be followed by a panel discussion and Q&A on the Guidelines for Legal Action by NGOs.

Speakers will include:

  • Wilbert Bannenberg from the Pharmaceutical Accountability Foundation, on our own case against Leadiant for abusing its dominant market position regarding the CDCA drug
  • Patrick Durisch from Public Eye, on the patent opposition case against Novartis on its Kymriah treatment
  • Peter Maybarduk from Public Citizen, on health rights litigation cases
  • James Love from Knowledge Ecology International (KEI) on the Freedom of Information Act

Thursday 27 january, 3pm

Please find more information on PAFs event webpage.

We look forward to welcoming you at this event! Please register here.