“There can be no doubt that the production and marketing of tobacco is irreconcilable with the human right to health,” concluded the Danish Institute for Human Rights after their assessment of Philip Morris International (PMI).
As such, it’s essential to integrate human rights reporting and their resulting enforcement mechanisms into our tobacco control work. ASH has been leading this work for several years, and we’ve made a lot of progress with the support of our public health community.
The preamble of the FCTC recognizes the human rights implications of tobacco. While Human Rights was not officially on the agenda at COP 11, a human rights-based approach to tobacco control was evident, both explicitly and implicitly, throughout the negotiations.
Agenda item 4.3 on Article 18-Protection of the environment and the health of persons– emphasized the connection between tobacco control and the human right to health and to a healthy environment. The Article 19 expert group report highlighted developments in human rights law and litigation. Several side events also highlighted human rights, including a panel with an emphasis on women’s rights.
Of course, the COP 10 Human Rights Decision FCTC/COP10(20) emphasized what was already true- human rights is integral to the FCTC. It is gratifying and exciting to see the COP 10 Decision in action, continuing to influence the COP and the FCTC into the future.
To engage in this work, visit our Human Rights Hub here>
And to help sustain this work, please make a donation here, to be MATCHED up to $37,000 if received by December 15th.
