National platforms – one of effective tools for advocacy Agnese Knabe Project coordinator

1. National platforms – one of effective tools for advocacy Agnese Knabe Project coordinator European Public Health Alliance Civic Alliance – Latvia 8-9 September, 2006, Estonia European Public Health Alliance

2. European Public Health Alliance • The idea of networking • 2. Concept of advocacy • 3. European Public Health Alliance – European network • 8-9 September, 2006, Estonia

3. The idea of networking Networks Contacts and relations between people, basedon confidence and solidarity, what gives social capital Pjer Burdje(expert social capital) Personal tool what ensures important advantages to individuals, groups, families, who has better contacts

4. The idea of networking Network Relations and collaborationbetween different persons • individuals • Groups • Organisations

5. The idea of networking Types • Official • Un-official • Long-term • Short-term

6. The idea of networking Culture and values Common aim • Confidence • Respect of different opinions • Support • Responsibilities • Awareness about the aim and the tools

7. The idea of networking • Motivation for collaboration • Sense of security • Mutual benefit • Information recourse • Knowledge • New contacts (recourses) • Accumulation of the recourses • Influence the quality of your life

8. Concept of advocacy Advocacy Purposeful actions to advocate the interests of concrete group Influence policy and legislation (lobby) Influence the public opinion WH

9. Lobbying • Employing persons to influence legislators to sponsor laws that further one's own interest or inhibit those of one's opponents. • Stating your position on specific legislation to legislators or other government employees who participate in the formulation of legislation, or urge your members to do so (direct lobbying). • Stating your position on legislation to the general public and asking the general public to contact legislators or other government employees who participate in the formulation of legislation (grassroots lobbying).

10. Lobbying • Why lobby? - because it can bring about policy changes that improve peoples' lives. • Lobbying is the process of trying to influence policymakers in favour of a specific cause or point of view. Lobbying includes a call to action. • How ? Using personal contacts, public pressure, or political action to persuade legislators to vote in a particular manner. • Advocacy is all activities undertaken to influence policy.

11. Lobbying actions • Monitor - what is happening in the institutions? What are the new policy trends, legal proposals? • Analyse - what could this mean for your member organisations or target group? What actions are needed - passive monitoring or active lobbying? • Inform - explain the background of the issue, basic elements of the proposal, the timeframe for action • Raise awareness - ensure that your members understand the implications for them and their issues of this policy or legislation • Engage - encourage debate, exchange of ideas, brainstorm on what should be the goals of lobbying

12. Consult - gather viewpoints from communities and target groups - particularly those affected by the policy proposal • Challenge - the policy-makers and other stakeholders to address your concerns or provide evidence and arguments for their positions • Empower - provide the tools for NGOs to act, eg draft letters, opportunities to sign-up, attend meetings with policy-makers, • Represent - bringing forward the diversity of voices of civil society, public interest, visibility through the media • Follow-up - keep up the momentum, follow the policy through to implementation, evaluation and review Lobbying actions

13. European Public Health Alliance • A network of more than 100 non governmental and not-for-profit organisations across Europe working on health and health-related issues • mission is to improve the health of European citizens and to increase their participation in EU policy-making

14. About EPHA • Information exchange • Membership services • Lobbying: > EU institutions • Networking: > Other health NGOs > Other thematic NGOs • Tracking policy issues: > Day to day analysis > Mailings - Briefings

15. EPHA members EPHA has two categories of membership: • Full members • Associate members EPHA membership fees are based on the income of the member organisation

16. EPHA members • International networks • European networks • National organisations

17. EPHA members • Health advocates • Disease specific patient groups • Academic researchers • Health professionals (e.g. doctors, nurses and pharmacists) • Consumer groups • Environment organisations • Development organisations

18. EPHA members • Benefit formembers • Information on actual Public health issues and EU policy developments • Monthly Newsletter • web page • members only site • Expertise on political and legal documents • Advocacy in European level • Contacts • Project opportunities • Capacitybuilding activities

20. How does EPHA work? • Advocacy Working groups At present there are 5 ongoing working groups on the following subjects: • Alcohol • Health care • Non-conventional medicine • Food and Nutrition • Health and Environment • Health and Enlargement • Pharmaceuticals

21. How does EPHA work? Policy Co-ordination Meetings Meeting every two months in Brussels, this group is open to allEPHA members. Contributions to the meeting are also received via e-mail

22. How does EPHA work? • Lobbying: > EU institutions • Networking: > Other health NGOs > Other thematic NGOs • Tracking policy issues: > Day to day analysis > Mailings - Briefings

23. Consulting members on major policy • The officers agree a topic on which a policy should be developed • The secretariat, one of the members, or an outside consultant, is invited to produce a first draft • Members are invited to comment • The revised text is re-submitted to the membership, with a clear deadline for any last-minute response • The Executive Committee then endorses the final text as EPHA policy. It may reject the proposed policy/text; or, alternatively, allow it to be adopted along with a minority report • The object of the exercise is to achieve agreement by consensus

24. Consulting members: an example • EPHA is involved in the policy work to ensure that a new EU Directive on Services in the Internal Market will not undermine health services • The AGA put the issue as a work priority • The Secretariat spread members’ positions • The Secretariat met with EU policy-makers • Awareness grew rapidly • Many policymakers now share EPHA’s vision • More information: http://www.epha.org/r/83

25. What does EPHA stand for? • Health protection as a goal in all EU policy-making - e.g. health impact assessments for all proposed legislation • Involvement of citizens in decision-making related to their own health • Equal access to good quality healthcare for all EU citizens

26. What does EPHA stand for? • Addressing health inequalities. (Children born in poor areas have a shorter, less healthy life than those born in richer parts of the same city, region and country) • Ensuring that EU internal policies (e.g. competition, environment, transport, energy, agriculture, industry) and external policies (e.g. trade, development, external aid) actually contribute towards better health

27. The role of NGOs in Brussels • Many EU policies have an impact – direct or indirect – on the health of EU citizens • 15,000 to 20,000 lobbyists in Brussels and ONLY 10% are NGOs representing citizens’ interests • Networking and alliances are the ONLY way to make our voice heard - You are unlikely to succeed alone. Use other NGOs resources rather than “re-invent the wheel” on your own.

28. European Public Health Alliance 39-41 Rue d’Arlon B-1000 Brussels Belgium Tel: +32 2 230 30 56 Fax: +32 2 233 38 80 epha@epha.org www.epha.org