TEMPLATE OF LEGISLATIVE SPEECH AND/OR PRESS RELEASE FOR INTERNATIONALCHILDHOOD CANCER DAY, 15 FEBRUARY 2018.
Childhood Cancer International
Advancing Cures, Transforming Care, Instilling Hope
City, Country, Date: International Childhood Cancer Day (ICCD) is celebrated
around the world each year on February 15th. Originally commemorated in 2002,ICCD is a day founded by Childhood Cancer International (CCI), a global networkof 188-member organizations in 96 countries - including our member organization
Children’s Cancer Association of Japan. Childhood Cancer International iscommitted to advancing cures, transforming care, and instilling hope for all
children and adolescents diagnosed with cancer in the world, wherever they may
live.
Childhood Cancer International is not alone in recognizing the devastating impact
of childhood cancer on children and families around the globe. In September 2011,
the United Nations (UN) General Assembly issued a Political Declaration
recognizing four major Non-Communicable Diseases/NCDs (cancer, cardiovasculardisease, diabetes and chronic respiratory disease) as the greatest killers of adults
and children.
Sadly, childhood cancer continues to be the leading cause of non-communicable
related death in children throughout the world. Globally, more than 300,000
children are diagnosed with cancer each year with about2000 new cases in ourcountry alone. Approximately 80 percent of our world’s children live in lowmiddle-income countries (LMICs) where more than 80 percent of these children
die of their disease. In developed countries like the United States, Canada, United
Kingdom, Japan and others, more than 80 percent of children survive cancer withhope to live productive and meaningful lives.
On July 6, 2017, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a global indicator
framework for achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and
2030 Global Health Targets. Sustainable Development Goal 3.4 challenges
countries to: “By 2030, reduce by one-third of premature mortality from NonCommunicable Diseases through prevention and treatment, and promote mental
health and well-being.” Childhood Cancer International agrees that making

childhood cancer a national and global child health priority is a critical first step
towards reducing premature child mortality 30 percent by 2030, providing a
crucial milestone for countries to obtain this United Nation’s goal.
Childhood cancers are often curable but too many children and adolescents haveno hope to overcome their disease simply because they were born in a country
entrenched in poverty resulting in late diagnosis, lack of access to life-saving
essential medicines and appropriate treatment.
There can be no more ‘but.’ All children in the world deserve hope for a cure - nomatter where they live - not more excuses. We can no longer sweep this issue“under the rug.” Children are the future of our country and our world. Theirvitality is the heartbeat of our world, a shared passion that can unite us becauseour future as a global community depends on it.
On International Childhood Cancer Day, all members of Childhood Cancer
International stand united to make childhood cancer a national and global childhealth priority to ensure there are adequate resources to meet the basic rights ofchildren with cancer. We believe those basic rights for all children diagnosed withcancer include:The right to early and proper diagnosis;
The right to access life-saving essential medicines;
The right to appropriate and quality medical treatments, and;The right to follow up care, services and sustainable livelihood
opportunities for survivors.

Furthermore, if a cure is not attainable, CCI stands by the right of the child toexperience a pain-free death. While unfathomable in developed countries, theshocking reality for a majority of low-middle income nations is that children
suffering from cancer will die excruciating deaths without any supportive care orpain management.
There can be no more ‘but.’ United together towards a shared vision we canadvance cures, transform care, and instill hope. Together we must take action toreduce premature child cancer mortality.