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20 Years of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control: A Significant Milestone

This week marks the 20th anniversary of the implementation of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), a landmark treaty recognized as one of the most successful agreements within the United Nations system.

Designed to tackle the global tobacco epidemic, the Convention lays out a robust legal structure and a set of evidence-based strategies for tobacco control. These strategies include mandatory graphic health warnings on cigarette packaging, smoke-free legislation in public spaces, and increased taxes on tobacco products.

As a result, approximately 5.6 billion individuals are now protected by at least one tobacco control measure aligned with the treaty, leading to a notable decline in global smoking prevalence.

Tobacco: A Humanitarian Crisis

“Tobacco poses a significant threat to humanity – it is the foremost cause of preventable deaths and illnesses worldwide,” stated WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. He highlighted that “since the WHO FCTC’s enforcement, the global prevalence of tobacco use has decreased by one-third.”

The WHO FCTC stands out as the first public health treaty negotiated under the aegis of the World Health Organization. Established on February 27, 2005, it currently encompasses 183 Parties, which collectively represent around 90 percent of the world’s population.

A commemorative event is scheduled for Thursday in Geneva to celebrate this significant milestone.

Regulations and Public Awareness

Thanks to the treaty, 138 nations now mandate substantial pictorial health warnings on cigarette packages. Many others have enacted plain packaging laws, enforcing a standardized design without branding or logos.

Both initiatives are essential in curbing tobacco use and raising awareness about its dangerous repercussions, according to WHO.

Moreover, over a quarter of the global population is now protected by policies that prohibit smoking in indoor and occupational environments, significantly protecting those exposed to secondhand smoke.

In addition, more than 66 countries have enacted bans on tobacco advertising, sponsorship, and promotion, which includes restrictions on various media outlets and sponsorship agreements.

Countering the Tobacco Industry’s Influence

The treaty provides countries with essential legal tools to confront the tobacco industry’s extensive promotional activities, which amount to tens of billions of dollars annually.

“The tobacco industry is a harmful sector contributing to the tobacco epidemic, attempting to align itself with health initiatives while actively undermining tobacco control efforts that could save countless lives,” observed Dr. Adriana Blanco Marquizo, Head of the WHO FCTC Secretariat.

She emphasized that the treaty empowers Parties with comprehensive solutions to shield populations from the industry’s persistent and evolving strategies aimed at maximizing profits, often at the expense of public health.

The Toll of Tobacco

Tobacco consumption is a leading factor in the rise of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), resulting in premature deaths and disabilities, as highlighted by WHO.

Illnesses related to tobacco usage lead to substantial healthcare costs, particularly affecting low-income populations. Additionally, smokers often face barriers in accessing nutritious food, even in affluent nations.

The repercussions extend beyond personal health.

Tobacco farming consumes significant land resources that could be utilized for sustainable food production, further depleting essential resources such as water. Additionally, the environmental impact is severe, with trillions of plastic-laden cigarette butts contributing to ecological pollution annually.

A Call to Action

WHO has indicated that the tobacco industry “continues to pose a challenge to public health initiatives, aggressively pursuing youth through marketing, lobbying against tobacco control measures, and framing itself as a contributor to solutions for an issue it has largely created.”

Dr. Blanco Marquizo stressed that despite progress in tobacco regulation, significant challenges remain, as “the tobacco industry continues to claim millions of lives each year, while imposing economic burdens on communities worldwide.”

She urged nations to fully execute the measures outlined in the WHO FCTC, which include elevating tobacco taxes, enforcing smoke-free regulations, implementing comprehensive bans on advertising and sponsorship, regulating tobacco product ingredients, and addressing the challenges posed by emerging tobacco and nicotine products.

“By taking these actions, we can potentially save millions more lives across the globe,” she asserted.

Source
news.un.org