World Summit Against Cancer for the New Millenium
Charter of Paris: 4 February 2000

Article 5

The World Health Organization estimates that by the year 2020, 20 million new cases of cancer will emerge each year. 70% of these patients will live in countries that between them will have less than 5% of the resources for cancer control. Cancer will continue to become an increasingly important contributor to the global burden of disease as we enter the next millenium, despite the fact that many cancers are preventable through control of tobacco use, diet, infection and pollution. It is estimated, for instance, that infections -- many potentially preventable -- cause 15% of cancer worldwide and 22% of cancers in the developing world.

The use of tobacco similarly causes millions of new cancers and cancer deaths each year, in both the developed and the developing world. This reality emphasizes the need for development of public policies that support the fight against cancer and urgent deployment of existing knowledge and technologies in the basic prevention of cancer to stem the rising tide of disease. The parties undertake to:

1. Actively support existing cancer prevention programs globally and build awareness and commitment to cancer prevention across all constituencies they represent.

2. ldentify opportunities to accelerate public education in tobacco control, diet modification, infection control and environmental protection.

3. Organize the support of industry and governments to enhance the delivery of cancer prevention through medical technology wherever possible