POLICY ADVOCATE
Law and Policy Submissions and Working Papers
HLPC makes submissions to policy bodies on law, institutional and policy reforms, highlighting key gaps, issues and points of public interest. This is done through “submissions” and “advisory notes”. Research is used to promote evidence-based policy making and raise awareness of policy in communities. Writing and researching of the Working Paper Series on pertinent health law and policy issues under the direction of established researchers is undertaken all year round.
Policy Dialogues
The HLPC holds two types of policy dialogues targeting Communities, Policy Makers, and the Media
Policy Dialogues for Policy Makers
Policy dialogues with policymakers are held on thematic issues and identified policies around access and quality of health care services, including prevention, treatment and management of diseases within a human rights-based framework. HLPC aims to strengthen the capacity of policymakers to understand policy implementation monitoring data and take relevant action.
Media Meetings
The media is an important part of advocacy. The HLPC engages journalists and media personnel through media forums, which are convened based on health policy themes and topical issues of outbreaks, access to services, budgeting, legislative agenda and state obligations in the provision of health services.
Community Health Policy Forums (CHPF)
Health Law and Policy literacy in communities is delivered through Community Health Policy Forums, which are generally mobile legal clinics to learn about law and policy as well as identify community health policy issues requiring legal and policy interventions. CHPFs target community health committees, health interest groups, community membership organisations and other bio-citizenship groups.
Community participation is a key element of a rights-based approach to health care. HLPC also uses CHPFs to reinforce health service monitoring efforts through accessing community stories and facilitating remedies for rights violations and exclusion. Advocacy capacities of communities are enhanced to effectively communicate and influence the policy process. Advocacy efforts are targeted, strategic and based on convincing evidence and community consultation.
Leadership from community target groups constructively engage in multi-stakeholder dialogues with policymakers to represent the needs and interests of their constituents. They also correspondingly communicate policy implications regularly to their constituents and mobilise them to become active in advocacy activities.
