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ASH’s Accomplishments in 2022

ASH’s work is based on the principle that the behavior of the tobacco industry – producing, marketing, and selling addictive products that kill when use as intended – violates human rights, such as the right to health and right to a healthy environment, that have been recognized at the international, regional, and national levels. Donate

As such, we focus on 5 key areas of work:

(1) Phasing out the commercial sale of tobacco products (aka Project Sunset),

(2) Using the law to hold the tobacco industry accountable,

(3) Using a human rights approach to advance tobacco control,

(4) Promoting and strengthening global best practices to reduce tobacco use, and

(5) Ensuring that UN international mechanisms address tobacco.

Combined, these programs will confront the tobacco industry from every angle to accelerate the end of the tobacco epidemic. Below, we celebrate our successes in each program in 2022.

Project Sunset: Phasing out the sale of commercial combustible tobacco products

  • Project Sunset
    Read more here

    ASH provided technical assistance on endgame advocacy in 14 jurisdictions covering cities, states, and global regions to push for the end of the sale of cigarettes through unique approaches that suit each jurisdiction, such as a sales phase out, banning cigarette filters, Tobacco-Free Generation, and more.

  • ASH was invited to serve on endgame task forces in New York, Minnesota, India and the European Union.
  • ASH testified at local hearings for endgame and flavors bills in California, DC, and Colorado.
  • ASH presented on tobacco endgame policies, implications, progress, and next steps at 8 conferences varying from state-wide events in Maryland, to the National Conference on Tobacco or Health (NCTOH) and global events like the European Network for Smoking and Tobacco Prevention and more.
  • ASH lectured on tobacco endgame at the University of Illinois-Chicago public health graduate program, the University of Maryland School of Law and the Georgetown Law Center.
  • ASH organized 6 high-level coordination meetings for advocates and government officials to align their work on tobacco endgame policies at the local, national, and regional levels.
  • ASH launched a podcast series with 7 new episodes: Tobacco Endgame Matters. 

 

Using the rule of law to hold the tobacco industry accountable for the harm they cause

  • ASH and its partner plaintiffs ended their lawsuit against the FDA over menthol cigarettes after the judge ordered FDA to comply.
  • ASH submitted comments on the proposed FDA rule on banning menthol cigarettes.  ASH provided a statement during the FDA listening session on menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars.
  • ASH continued its lawsuit against Juul for misleading packaging.

Using global norms to move local communities toward a zero tobacco-use prevalence

  • Human Rights Program
    Read more here

    ASH submitted 11 comments to United Nations bodies, providing recommendations on COVID-19 pandemic recovery, human rights being incorporated into the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, how tobacco impacts the human rights of marginalized populations and more.

  • ASH submitted a comment and participated in the first round of discussions on CERD General Comment Number 37, which will focus on the right to health. The discussions will continue into 2023.
  • ASH organized a sign on campaign with 120 organizations to submit a joint report to the Committee on the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD) to align with the United States’ reporting cycle to CERD. Our goal is for CERD to recommend the U.S. protect African Americans from the tobacco industry by banning menthol.
  • ASH worked with several partners to send a joint letter to the Spanish Ministry of Health asked that they maintain their smoke-free terraces policy and another campaign to reverse their decision to add more tobacco retailers along the Spanish-French border.
  • ASH Staff were appointed to the Howard University Cancer Center ACS Health Equity Research Advisory Council to review cancer health disparities unique to the Washington, DC area and to develop policy recommendations for local stakeholders to work towards health equity.
  • ASH was invited to join a Swiss Government taskforce on Transparency and Truth and a Steering Committee convened by the Truth Initiative around scientific integrity.
  • ASH participated in a consultation on human rights and tobacco focused on children’s rights and the environment.
  • ASH helped organize 4 regional events on incorporating human rights treaty body reporting into tobacco control work.
  • ASH staff gave lectures on using global norms and human rights to strengthen tobacco control at the University of Maryland Law School, Georgetown University’s O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law, the Institute of Public Health in Bengaluru, India and more.
  • ASH continued to update and improve our Tobacco and Human Rights Hub here>
  • ASH Staff presented on global norms to UNEP, WHO, WHA, European Scientific Network on Law and Tobacco’s Conference, UICC World Cancer Congress, DC Calls It Quits Week Summit, and more.
  • ASH hosted a training for advocates on the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD). Click here to view the recording.
  • ASH attended the 1st round of negotiations for the UN Treaty to End Plastic Pollution. Read our closing synopsis here>
  • ASH supported the local coalition efforts to ensure DC’s Flavors Bill was fully funded. The law is being enforced as of October 1, 2022. ASH continues efforts to strengthen enforcement.
  • Research is in the final stages for the 2022 Tobacco Industry Interference Index and updates to our Tobacco Lobbyist and Lobbying Firm Registration Tracker.

 

ASH in the News

Key media articles quoting ASH or mentioning our work

Press Releases

Publications

Blogs

 

You play a critical role in our success too. Without your support, much of this wouldn’t have happened. Please make a generous donation today, to be DOUBLED, to bolster our work.Donate