From 19 to 21 March 2013, the first regional workshop that tackles the issue of trade in relation to tobacco control is being held jointly with WHO headquarters. This workshop gathers experts from the health, trade and commerce sectors to:

discuss the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), the World Trade Organization agreements and other international treaties related to tobacco trade and commerce

clarify the salient provisions of these international agreements and the linkages between them and the WHO FCTC

brainstorm on the potential for future collaboration in tobacco control within the context of the WHO FCTC and other international treaties that regulate global trade and commerce.

Background

Since its adoption in 2003, the WHO FCTC brought tobacco control to the forefront in many sectors, including trade, finance and commerce. Tobacco control became not only a health priority but a multifaceted policy intervention that has implications on various policies in the areas of finance, trade and commerce. The interaction and harmonization between the different sectors became a necessity in order to achieve the comprehensiveness needed in successful tobacco control both at national and regional levels.

This multisectoral commitment flagged by the WHO FCTC was reiterated by the recently developed International protocol to curb illicit trade in tobacco products, adopted by the Parties to the WHO FCTC in November 2012. Upon its entry into force, the trade and customs sectors will be responsible for developing effective systems to monitor and track tobacco trade movement across the globe, starting at national level.

The tobacco industry continues to exert all its efforts to undermine the implementation and the impact of the WHO FCTC, by thwarting the provisions of other international trade agreements and trade liberalization. The tobacco industry is relentless in its efforts to create a false reality about the WHO FCTC being in contradiction with such agreements.

However, strong evidence has shown that tobacco control is a win-win policy for all sectors of the government, including trade and commerce. Governments across the globe have gained not only in terms of health but also in terms of revenue generation by implementing stronger tobacco control measures, including trade regulations for tobacco products, coupled with improved taxation policies.

Information for participants

From 26 to 30 November 2012, the Eastern Mediterranean Regional Tobacco Control Leadership Programme was held by the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean in collaboration with the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health and the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease. This programme was a five-day training session tailored specifically for the Eastern Mediterranean Region, and aimed to build effective capacity for tobacco control.

This programme is a stepping stone into a new era of tobacco control, where a new cohort was prepared to take the agenda forward by:

• using evidence concerning the health and economic burden of tobacco use
• strengthening skills in monitoring and evaluation, communication and advocacy
• applying evidence-based practices in tobacco control to address country-specific issues and challenges
• strengthening ties and linkages to international colleagues
• enhancing leadership and networking skills to advocate for, enact and implement effective policy change.

Background

People have an inherent right and countries have an obligation; an inherent right to receive information about tobacco use, and an obligation to provide it. To help reduce the growing prevalence of tobacco use in many countries of our Region, we need to share experiences and apply lessons learned.

Tobacco continues to kill nearly 6 million people each year, including more than 600 000 non-smokers who die from exposure to tobacco smoke. Up to half of the world’s 1 billion smokers, most of whom live in low- and middle-income countries, will eventually die of a tobacco-related disease.

Through learning, doing and teaching we have the means to change these circumstances and to help shape a new and better future.  

Support to emerging leaders from across the Region is needed to build their capacity in developing, implementing and enforcing tobacco control policy interventions in an effective manner; a manner in line with the legal obligations of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and the commitments of the United Nations Political Declaration on the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases.

The WHO FCTC is one of the most rapidly embraced treaties in United Nations history. The speed with which it was adopted by countries points to two underlying messages: first, that there is political will to strengthen tobacco control; and second, perhaps more importantly, that governments are committed to protecting their people.

Over the years, a base of technical tools and high impact interventions to reduce the demand for and supply of tobacco has been built. These tools and interventions have been proven to reduce tobacco-related morbidity and mortality in countries, when implemented.

Through this tobacco leadership programme, each and every person will be equipped with the means to engage actively in tobacco control and in saving lives. No individual can fight this deadly and debilitating epidemic alone. Our success depends on one another and on our ability to move, and to convince others to work, and continue working with us.