Global Alliance Joins Forces in the Fight Against Cancer PARIS, Feb. 9 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ -- A global commitment to the fight against cancer was declared today by a unique global anti-cancer alliance, the World Summit Against Cancer initiative (WSAC). Under the auspices of UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the Summit brings together an allied international group of politicians, economists, cancer researchers, healthcare professionals, patient advocates, celebrities and industry. The Summit is dedicated to defeating cancer within our lifetimes. Among the speakers are Nicole Fontaine, President of the European Parliament; Donald Johnston, OECD Secretary General; and Prof. Eliezer Robinson, President of the International Union Against Cancer. "The global fight against cancer cannot be won by one institute, company, nation or discipline alone. It takes steady and coherent action at national and international levels to overcome the biggest obstacles in this fight, which are isolation and complacency," says Prof. David Khayat, France, co-founder of the initiative. As WSAC co-founder Prof. Gabriel Hortobagyi, USA, outlines, "Cancer affects more and more people much faster than our ability to cure it. So this is not a 'photo-op summit', but a milestone on our way to create effective global partnerships." This year's Summit will focus on 'Tobacco and Cancer;' 'Research, Education and Training;' and 'Patient Advocacy.' The first year after the inaugural Summit in February 2000 has seen more than 50 agencies, associations, centers, institutes and organizations worldwide join the WSAC, e.g. the Australian Cancer Society; the Cancer Research Campaign, Great Britain; The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, USA; the National Cancer Institute, Taiwan; the Instituto Ludwig de Pesquisa Sobre o Cancer, Brazil; and the World Health Organization. Numerous WSAC events around the world helped to raise public awareness, and thousands of individuals have signed the Charter of Paris Against Cancer, which outlines the goals and principles of the WSAC in the following ten articles: I: Cancer Patient Rights are Human Rights II: Eradicate the Stigma of Cancer III: Promote Knowledge and Scientific Progress IV: Ensure the Right to Quality Cancer Care V: Enhance Cancer Prevention VI: Prioritize Screening and Early Detection VII: Empower Cancer Patients VIII: Improve Quality of Life IX: Support Local Strategies X: Establish Alliances "It is a pleasure for me to sign this Charter, and I want to encourage everybody else to do this because it shows your commitment to the success of this great endeavor," says breast cancer survivor and American Academy Award nominee and Tony Award winner Diahann Carroll. The Charter can be signed at www.charteragainstcancer.org. The WSAC is supported by Bristol-Myers Squibb and Ortho Biotech. For more information, please see www.charteragainstcancer.org or contact Robert Schaefer Fleishman-Hillard International Communications Hanauer Landstrasse 182c D-60314 Frankfurt Tel. +49-69-40-57-02-361 E-mail: [email protected] SOURCE: World Summit Against Cancer CONTACT: Robert Schaefer of Fleishman-Hillard, International Communications, +49-69-40-57-02-361, or [email protected], for the World Summit Against Cancer Web site: http://www.charteragainstcancer.org-END-