The World Health Organization (WHO) selected “The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control” (WHO FCTC) as the theme for World No Tobacco Day, today; Tuesday, 31 May 2011. The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) is the world’s foremost tobacco control instrument and the first treaty ever negotiated under the auspices of WHO. It is an evidence-based treaty, widely embraced by more than 170 Parties; it also reaffirms the right of all people to the highest standard of health and provides new legal dimensions for cooperation in tobacco control.
Tobacco use is the number one preventable epidemic that the health community faces and the leading preventable cause of death. This year, more than 5 million people will die from a tobacco-related heart attack, stroke, cancer, lung ailment or other disease. That does not include the more than 600,000 people – more than a quarter of them children – who will die from exposure to second-hand smoke. The annual death toll from the global epidemic of tobacco use could rise to 8 million by 2030. Having killed 100 million people during the 20th century, tobacco use could kill 1 billion during the 21st century.
World No Tobacco Day 2011 was designed to highlight the treaty’s overall importance, to stress Parties’ obligations under the treaty and to promote the essential role of the Conference (treaty’s central organ and governing body) and WHO in supporting countries’ efforts to meet those obligations.
The WHO FCTC and the World Health Assembly adopted a resolution calling for an international framework convention on tobacco control and confers legal obligations on all its Parties – (countries – and the European Union that have formally acceded to it.)
Among these obligations are those to:
Protect public health policies from commercial and other vested interests of the tobacco industry.
Adopt price and tax measures to reduce the demand for tobacco.
Protect people from exposure to tobacco smoke.
Regulate the contents of tobacco products.
Regulate tobacco product disclosures.
Regulate the packaging and labeling of tobacco products.
Warn people about the dangers of tobacco.
Ban tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship.
Offer people help to end their addiction to tobacco.
Control the illicit trade in tobacco products.
Ban sales to and by minors.
Support economically viable alternative to tobacco growing.
The Ministry of Health and Human Services have recognized “The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control” (WHO FCTC) obligations that all countries must fully implement the treaty to protect present and future generations from the devastating health, social, environmental and economic consequences of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke. To this end, “a 100% Smoke Free Environment Policy” have already been drafted and a number of meetings with internal and non-governmental stakeholders have been conducted to sensitize and encourage interest and buy-in to such a vital policy. We do welcome and acknowledge the support and participation of the public throughout the process in implementing a 100% Smoke Free Environment within the TCI.
Please join us in the effort to promote „World No Tobacco Day” today and everyday in the TCI. A smoke free policy will improve our health, strengthen our tourism-based economy and help keep the TCI Beautiful by Nature.
