Article X states that:
Since cancer knows no boundaries, and individual countries cannot address the challenges of cancer in isolation, a new cooperative approach to research, advocacy, prevention and treatment must be established.
The parties undertake to develop unprecedented global networks and alliances to further the goals of this charter. They further pledge to ensure that the objectives of this charter are not abandoner after its signing, by:
- Recognizing the declaration by all appropriate institutions that February 4 shall be marked as “World Cancer Day” so that each year, the Charter of Paris will be in the hearts and minds of people around the world.
- Establishing standing committees that will produce annual reports, benchmarking progress against each of the articles of the Charter.
- Forming a global network of advocacy groups to encourage grassroots support for charter articles within their communities.
- Creating a global research organization made up of leading professional societies around the world. This group will be dedicated to ensuring that current knowledge is shared across borders, research gaps are identified and promising areas are explored.
- Rallying one million people around the world to sign the Charter of Paris by the year 2001, thereby showing their willingness to mobilize on behalf of those affected by cancer.
How has the development of global networks and alliances furthered the goals of the charter?
February 4th has been recognized as World Cancer Day, and under the guidance of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) has developed yearly themes to address certain concerns, however, the awareness of the public of the Charter’s association with World Cane Day, may be limited.
Several international research organizations have been created, such as the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), which through some of its program creates regular reports on cancers and their prevalence worldwide. Out of the recognized increased need and importance of them, a plethora of advocacy groups have also been formed. Many of these organizations have also been key in the progress of patient advocacy and education since the signing of the charter.
Organizations like the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the European Society for Meical oncology (ESMO), and the Asian National Cancer Centers Alliance (ANCCA) to name a few, have served to advance cancer research on treatment on an international level. On local levels, cancer alliances have served to coordinate and improve cancer care in the community between providers to ensure a fair distribution of resources, help improve patient outcomes, provide emotional support the to the patients and their families, advocate for better treatment options, better facilities, and better access to early detection and screening methods to reduce late diagnoses and worse patient outcomes.