HEALTH ADVOCATES PRAISE NATIONS AT INTERNATIONAL TOBACCO CONTROL CONFERENCE: Call for Urgent Action Against Secondhand Smoke, Cigarette Smuggling
HEALTH ADVOCATES PRAISE NATIONS AT INTERNATIONAL TOBACCO CONTROL CONFERENCE: Call for Urgent Action Against Secondhand Smoke, Cigarette Smuggling
Geneva, 6th July 2007 – The Framework Convention Alliance, representing over 300 organizations from more than 100 countries, applauded nations attending negotiations on the World Health Organization’s tobacco control treaty for taking strong action that will protect health and save millions of lives around the world.
But for lives to be saved and illness avoided real action must be taken by governments at home.
“Nations representatives should be congratulated for working very hard but the conference outcomes are really just the bones: not until the meat is added by governments putting these decisions into practice at home will we see lives being saved,” said Janet Voûte, CEO of the World Heart Federation. “Urgent action needs to be taken to protect people from secondhand smoke and to stop the illegal trafficking in tobacco products which increases tobacco use and loses governments billions of dollars in tax revenue each year”, she added.
In particular, the Framework Convention Alliance (FCA) praised nations for taking these important actions to implement the tobacco control treaty, the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control:
• 147 Nations adopted an international standard for protection from secondhand smoke that calls on governments to enact laws requiring 100 percent smoke-free workplaces and public places. This is the evidence-based standard that will guide nations in meeting their treaty commitments to protect citizens from secondhand smoke. The FCA calls on nations to quickly enact comprehensive smoke-free laws that implement the new global standard.
• Nations agreed to fund and launch expedited negotiations on a binding protocol, or side agreement to the treaty, to combat the illicit trade in tobacco products. This protocol is critical to reducing tobacco use and its devastating consequences around the world because smuggled and counterfeit cigarettes are sold at lower prices than legal products, contributing to higher tobacco consumption and greater rates of tobacco-related illness and death.
• Nations also agreed to establish a working group to draft comprehensive guidelines on the implementation of the treaty provisions that call for a ban on domestic and cross-border tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship.
As a leader in the fight against cardiovascular disease, the World Heart Federation is a resolute defender of the work of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control: smoking accounts for 20% of cardiovascular disease deaths and passive smoking is as deadly. The World Heart Federation is thus pleased to see the progress made in this area at the second Conference of the Parties which just wrapped up in Bangkok. The World Heart Federation encourages its members to take this chance to participate in the global effort to develop tobacco control and fight second hand smoking in particular.
About the World Heart Federation
The World Heart Federation, a nongovernmental organization based in Geneva, Switzerland, is committed to helping the global population achieve a longer and better life through prevention and control of heart disease and stroke, with a particular focus on low- and middle-income countries. It is comprised of 189 member societies of cardiology and heart foundations from over 100 countries covering the regions of Asia-Pacific, Europe, the Americas and Africa. For further information visit: www.worldheart.org
About the Framework Convention Alliance
The Framework Convention Alliance is made up of almost 300 organizations representing over 100 countries around the world. It was created to support the development, ratification, and implementation of the WHO FCTC.