The presentation explores the use of international law for obesity prevention, with a focus on the intersection between international public health law and human rights, particularly the rights to health and adequate food. Obesity rates have been increasing throughout the world, and legal and regulatory interventions are emerging at global level to address the complex and multiple causes of obesity. However the measures adopted by the World Health Organization (WHO) for obesity prevention have been criticized for their piecemeal approach and lack of legal robustness. Meanwhile, the human rights community has started to tackle the issue of obesity and to point out the human rights implications of obesity. Therefore, this presentation looks at the possible synergies between international public health law and human rights, their limits, and the extent to which such synergies could be used to strengthen the global regulatory approach to obesity prevention. In order to inform these questions, the presentation uses a comparative analysis with legal precedents in the areas of tobacco control and HIV/AIDS.
Biography
Céline Brassart Olsen is a PhD Fellow at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, and a visiting researcher at the O’Neill Institute. She is writing a PhD on the use of international law for obesity prevention, with a focus on the intersection between international public health law and human rights. In addition, she teaches health and human rights. Prior to this, Céline worked as a Legal Consultant for the World Health Organization on various projects, ranging from the adoption of the general policy strategy for WHO/Europe (Health2020) to the implementation of the WHO FCTC within the European region. She also worked for Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, and the Smoke Free Partnership in Brussels, where she focused on the revision of the European Union’s Tobacco Products Directive. Previously, she was an Associate at the law firm Dechert LLP in New York City, where she is admitted to the Bar. She holds a Masters in International Legal Studies (LL.M.) from American University, and a dual degree in English and French Laws (Bachelor of Law/Maîtrise) from the University of Essex (UK) and Université Paris Ouest Nanterre (France).
This event is open to all students, faculty, staff, and interested members of the public.