The Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI), in collaboration with the newly established Pan African Legal Network on Food and Nutrition (PALNEF), convened its first-ever Litigation Symposium in Marrakech, Morocco, from December 3-5, 2024. PALNEF was formed in July 2024 during GHAI’s 2nd African Legal Symposium. This independent organization includes legal professionals from 12 countries across Africa collaborating to advance public health policy through law and legal actions.
This groundbreaking Litigation Symposium brought together lawyers from Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean and the United States to build litigation capacity, share innovative strategies, and develop feasible litigation pathways to advance public health policies and hold health-harming industries accountable. Strategic litigation is a powerful tool for systemic change because it harnesses the threat of legal liability to push governments to act in the public interest, to deter harmful industry conduct and to make health-harming industries pay for the damage they cause.
Representing 16 countries and 40 organizations, participants exchanged valuable insights on how to leverage litigation as a mechanism to tackle industry interference, prevent deceptive marketing and advocate for policy advancement. The Symposium highlighted multi-jurisdictional opportunities, offering a unique platform for lawyers to identify cases that could be collaboratively advanced across regions to maximize impact.
Cutting-Edge Litigation Strategies and Collaborative Learning
The three-day Symposium featured a rich program designed to empower participants with practical skills and knowledge. Key sessions included:
Skill-Building on Case Development: Focused on strategic approaches to litigation, with case studies across tobacco control, road safety, food policy and environmental legal issues.
Legal Pathways to Industry Accountability: Explored the use of antitrust law and consumer protection as tools to challenge harmful practices deployed by the private sector.
Creative Approaches for Collaborative Discussions: Facilitated diverse and innovative exchanges of litigation strategies, fostering collaboration across legal systems and inspiring attendees to think outside the box.
Participants praised the group case discussions for refining legal strategies and fostering a collaborative atmosphere. Sessions on consumer protection, competition law and cost recovery were especially impactful, inspiring new approaches to link harm reduction with strategic litigation. As one participant reflected, “this was an incredible opportunity to learn from the strategies different countries have adopted and to connect with lawyers who share the same passion for advancing public health through the law.”
The Litigation Symposium and its outputs are a testament to the collective power of the legal community in advancing public health. By fostering collaboration and equipping lawyers with new tools and strategies, the event created a strong foundation for future efforts to drive accountability and protect health globally.
