Following the success of the 1st ECCPW, the European Cervical Cancer Association is now planning the 2nd ECCPW to be held during the week of 20-26 January 2008.

What is the ECCA European Office doing?

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The Pearl of WisdomTM Cervical Cancer Awareness Campaign

In order to raise awareness of cervical cancer prevention and advocate for the implementation of prevention programmes across Europe, a visible and recognisable symbol was required that people can wear to demonstrate their support for this campaign.

The Cambridge International Dictionary of Idioms defines a Pearl of Wisdom as “an important piece of advice” and it is therefore a very appropriate symbol for an event that encourages women to participate in cervical cancer prevention programmes. Even in those countries where the Pearl of Wisdom phrase is not used, pearls are still associated with femininity and represent an appropriate symbol for the Cervical Cancer Prevention Campaign.

The ECCA is working with its members, partners and donors from across Europe and the UICC to promote the Pearl of Wisdom campaign. The activities being undertaken cover a wide range including the distribution of the Pearl of WisdomTM to high-profile individuals who will be encouraged to wear it during the Prevention Week (politicians, celebrities, media personalities), an e-mail awareness campaign, direct sales in gynaecologists’ cabinets, corporate internal sales, etc. These programmes will generate interest in the Prevention Week and complement the national activities now being organised.

Proceeds from the Pearl of Wisdom Campaign will be used to support cervical cancer prevention activites across Europe.

The Cervical Cancer Summit Meeting, 22 January 2008

The Cervical Cancer Interest Group (CCIG) that was started in the European Parliament is now being expanded into a Europe-wide political network dedicated to the elimination of cervical cancer. To support this process, the ECCA is working with the ECCIG to organise the inaugural meeting of the expanded group, the European Cervical Cancer Summit Meeting, that will be held in Brussels on the morning of Tuesday 22 January 2008.

This meeting will provide national politicians from across Europe with:
a) up to date information on the European Institutions’ policies, actions and plans for supporting the implementation of cervical cancer prevention programmes across Europe
b) the opportunity provide feedback regarding the utility of these programmes for their countries.

The STOP Cervical Cancer Petition Signing Ceremony

The ECCA launched the STOP Cervical Cancer Petition as a tool to help raise awareness of cervical cancer prevention. We are now working with the Cervical Cancer Interest Group to organise an event to be held in the European Parliament on the afternoon of Tuesday 22 January 2008 where the Members of the European Parliament and the national politicians attending the Summit Meeting will be invited to add thier signatures to the petition.

This event will be paralleled by similar signing ceremonies organised by the ECCA’s members in their own parliaments across Europe where the final signatures from national politicians will be added to the national sections of the petition. In this way, each country will be able to generate its own media coverage while capitalising on the heightened media interest that will accompany the European campaign.