Endgame Training Course

WHO FCTC

FAQs on the World Health Organization (WHO) Tobacco Treaty

What is the WHO Tobacco Treaty (i.e. the FCTC)? The World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) is a treaty that was formally negotiated by all Member States of the United Nations under the auspices of the World Health Organization, a subsidiary body of the United Nations,

FCTC COP10: Article 2.1 Decision (Forward Looking Measures)

The Tenth Conference of the Parties (COP 10) of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) adopted a series of key Decisions including a decision entitled “Forward-looking tobacco control measures (in relation to Article 2.1 of the WHO FCTC)” that addresses innovative policies aimed at ending the tobacco epidemic.

FCTC COP10: Article 18 (Environment) Decision

The tenth Conference of the Parties (COP 10) of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) adopted a series of key Decisions including a decision entitled “Implementation of Article 18 of the WHO FCTC” that addresses the “environmental concerns associated with tobacco.” ASH is a proud supporter of this Decision

Statement from UNEP at WHO FCTC COP10

On the opening day of the 10th WHO FCTC Conference of the Parties (COP10), the Executive Director of the UN Environmental Programme, Inger Andersen, provided a clear description of the significant negative environmental impact of tobacco products and made an eloquent case for increased collaboration between FCTC and UN environmental

COP10 Day 6: WHO Tobacco Treaty Negotiations

February 10, 2024 – COP10 was particularly special because several cross-cutting issues – human rights, the environment, and the tobacco endgame – were on the agenda. ASH and the Global Alliance for Tobacco Control (then the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control) led advocacy for a human rights decision at COP8

COP10 Day 5: WHO Tobacco Treaty Negotiations

February 9, 2024 – Today is the second to last day of the 10th Conference of the Parties, and the Parties still have agenda items left to discuss, but they have also gotten through several of their important agenda items. Yesterday, the government of Ecuador proposed a Decision on the

COP10 Day 4: WHO Tobacco Treaty Negotiations

February 8, 2024 – How the Sausage Gets Made Few of us have ever made actual sausage. But we’ll explain the process anyway, and then compare it to how things get done at FCTC COP. To make sausage, you need some casing, some meat and spices. You grind everything up, and

COP10 Day 3: WHO Tobacco Treaty Negotiations

February 7, 2024 – Today was another packed day for the ASH delegation here in Panama. Several of ASH’s policy priorities have come up on the agenda of the COP. Unfortunately, fruitful debates on these items have been delayed because of country Parties spouting tobacco industry rhetoric. However, that has

COP10 Day 2: WHO Tobacco Treaty Negotiations

February 6, 2024 – A typical day at the Conference of the Parties begins very early and ends very late, and today was no different. At 7:00 AM, ASH begins by meeting with our civil society allies to discuss strategy for the day. Starting at 9:00 AM, we attend meetings

COP10 Day 1: WHO Tobacco Treaty Negotiations

February 5, 2024 – The in-person portion of the 10th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP10) of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) began today in Panama City. In a very fitting opening message, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General said, “We must continue advocating for

ASH Priorities at COP10

Media Contact: Megan Manning manningm@ash.org Introduction In 2005, the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) entered into force, becoming a legally binding treaty that has now been joined by more than 180 countries. Parties to the FCTC meet every two years (officially called the Conference of the Parties or

INC-3 Day 6/7: UN Plastics Pollution Treaty Negotiations

November 20, 2023 – INC-3 adjourned on Sunday, November 19th with a decision for the Secretariat to provide a revised zero draft text. The text will be available by December 31, 2023 and will serve as the subsequent document to be negotiated at INC-4, which will be held from April 21-30,

INC-3 Day 4: UN Plastics Pollution Treaty Negotiations

November 16, 2023 – Contact Groups continued today in the run up to the plenary, which was quite brief. The plenary only included a review of each Contact Groups’ progress and the next steps on the agenda for each group. Contact Groups 2 and 3 have completed their first round

WHO, WHO FCTC & UNEP Webinar

Fighting tobacco product waste: Holding tobacco industry accountable for its environmental footprint June 2, 2022 – Tobacco control experts, including ASH’s Executive Director Laurent Huber, and environmental advocates from around the world join our roundtable discussion, hosted by the World Health Organization, the WHO FCTC Secretariat, and the UN Environment

Opposing Goals: The Tobacco Industry vs. Public Health

Author: Vivienne Brandt, ASH Policy and Communications Intern In 2003, the World Health Organization concluded negotiations of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), which reaffirmed the right of all people to the highest attainable standard of health. This international treaty lays out the best practices to end the tobacco

Dr. Adriana Blanco Marquizo – Webinar on Tobacco Endgame in Spain

ASH Webinar on Tobacco Endgame in Spain February 11, 2021 Statement from Dr. Adriana Blanco Marquizo, Head of the Secretariat of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) [presented in Spanish, traducción abajo] Thank you for the opportunity to speak today about a very important matter – the endgame

KRS in Geneva

ASH at the 2019 Human Rights Council

ASH staff recently spent time in Geneva, Switzerland to attend the 41st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council. The UN Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations system responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the world. Several of those

Bucharest Declaration on Human Rights and a Tobacco-Free Europe

This Resolution came out of discussions that began at the Global Forum on Human Rights and a Tobacco-Free World on March 26, 2019 in Bucharest, Romania and continued at the annual European Network for Smoking and Tobacco Prevention’s conference in Bucharest that week. Watch ASH’s video recap of the historic

Using Human Rights Arguments in Litigation

Some advocates have begun using human rights arguments in litigation against the tobacco industry. Below are several cases relevant to human rights, but this list is far from exhaustive of all tobacco litigation. For a much more in depth look at tobacco litigation worldwide, please visit the excellent resource put

In memoriam of Dr. Caleb Otto

It is with great sadness that we heard of the passing of our friend, mentor and public health hero, Dr. Caleb Otto, former Ambassador from Palau to the United Nations. Dr. Otto not only did not think we were crazy when we asked him to consider the idea to integrate

ASH: The Big Picture

2017 has been a very exciting year at ASH. We celebrated our 50th anniversary, announced our pivot away from “tobacco control” and towards “cigarette free” and earned numerous victories across each of our programs. As we begin looking forward into 2018 and beyond, we want to share with you how

Legal Victories in International Tobacco Control 2014

Philip Morris International was fined in Brazil for targeting youth The consumer protection agency from the Brazilian state of São Paulo has fined Philip Morris over $480,000. The agency acted after a formal complaint was filed against Philip Morris by tobacco control activists who documented how its marketing tactics in