The ASH Policy Team is in Panama for the Tenth Conference of the Parties (COP10) of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) from February 5 – 10, 2024. They will share updates and progress here for our community to stay engaged and informed throughout COP10.
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 urgent and accelerated implementation of the WHO FCTC. We must continue to be on our guard against the tobacco industry and its tactics.”
ASH Executive Director Laurent Huber moderated the side event organized by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the WHO FCTC Knowledge Hub for Article 5.3, co-organized by Ecuador, Corporate Accountability, and the Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance, on Implementation of Article 5.3 of the WHO FCTC. Speakers covered the importance of combatting tobacco industry interference on every front to safeguard a strong and robust treaty.
During the opening session, ASH welcomed the announcement from the United Kingdom that they are working to have first Smoke-Free Generation by introducing a Tobacco-Free Generation policy.
Throughout COP10, ASH hopes FCTC Parties will make decisions to help advance not only the health of humans but also the health of our environment.
ASH and our partners were particularly pleased by the statement made in plenary by Inger Andersen, Under Secretary General and Executive Director of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), who promoted the need for collaboration between UNEP and the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). Andersen made it clear that the world has an opportunity for collaboration to solve the three great environmental crises: climate change, loss of biodiversity, and pollution.
At a time when lack of collaboration and whole of government solutions are common, Andersen’s message offers a powerful example of how governments, inter-governmental organizations, and civil society can collectively solve global challenges together.
Tomorrow, ASH will join ENSP, the FCTC Secretariat, CTFK, GATC, and the Truth Initiative for a lunch session on Cross-Border Tobacco Advertising, Promotion and Sponsorship (TAPS) at 13:30. And in the evening, we will host an event with the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids on The FCTC: A Tool to Advance Human Rights at 18:30. Join us for two very valuable conversations.
We look forward to a productive and collaborative week at #COP10FCTC.
