The influence of the World Health Organization is a growing debate, particularly in the field

of International Relations. Despite the widespread interest in this topic, a research gap

remains, particularly in terms of understanding the impact of norms and power. This paper

addresses this gap through comparative case analysis utilizing national government policy

papers and national health campaigns. The research question for this paper asks How do

WHO-led norms on tobacco and child health influence the policy frameworks and national

health campaigns in Switzerland and South Africa? The study presents and discusses its

findings through the lens of theoretical frameworks, specifically constructivist international

relations, the WPR approach and norm diffusion. A focal point of this examination is the role

of influence and norms. The discussion centers on the subject of the influence of the World

Health Organization regarding its power, as well as the demonstration of how Switzerland

and South Africa have adopted these normative frameworks. By exploring these issues and

contextualizing them from a constructivist approach, this paper concludes that the World

Health Organization not only possesses significant influence but also plays a crucial role in

shaping national health policies and campaigns, thereby affirming its status as a key actor in

global health governance.