The rapid implementation of targeted and total border closures at the beginning of the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020 spurred frustration and confusion amidst travelers and scientific advisory councils. Did these measures have an effect on slowing the circulation of the pandemic, and were they justified as a means to protect population health?
How can policymakers make treaties more effective? With new treaties routinely called and drafted, it is imperative these instruments are evaluated for whether they serve their intended purpose. We use innovative global legal epidemiological methods to assess whether and under what conditions treaties are helpful in addressing global challenges.
We know tobacco control policies are effective at the national level, but what role does international law play in combating the global tobacco epidemic? Evaluating the impacts of the FCTC is timely and necessary as it is the first treaty negotiated under the auspices of WHO and one of the most important international laws governing global health.