The Human Rights Council (HRC) is a United Nations (UN) body whose mission is to promote and protect human rights around the world. While there have been a limited number of resolutions that are directly relevant to tobacco control, there are many others that could support a human rights based approach to health, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and tobacco control.

HRC and the UN system

  • The right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

    The right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Read more…

  • Promotion and protection of human rights and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

    2018 – asks the Convention Secretariat to communicate with various bodies about becoming official observers, including the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Read more…

  • A/HRC/8/5- PROMOTION AND PROTECTION OF ALL HUMAN RIGHTS, CIVIL, POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS, INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO DEVELOPMENT Protect, Respect and Remedy: a Framework for Business and Human Rights

    This report presents a conceptual and policy framework to anchor the business and human rights debate, and to help guide all relevant actors. Read more here

ASH submissions to calls for input

  • Letter on children's rights and the environment

    October 17, 2019

    Read it here

  • Letter on tobacco and the SDGs

    Feburary 2019

    ASH submitted a letter highlighting the link between tobacco control, implementation of the WHO tobacco treaty, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). ASH promoted tobacco control as an example of “effective methods to foster cooperation between local government and local stakeholders for the effective promotion and protection of human rights.”

  • Comments from Action on Smoking and Health to the United Nations’ Open-ended Intergovernmental Working Group on Transnational Corporations and Other Business Enterprises with Respect to Human Rights on the Elements for the Draft Legally Binding Instrument on Transnational Corporations and Other Business Enterprises with Respect to Human Rights

    ASH responded to a call for submissions from the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights, linking tobacco as a human rights issue. Read more here

  • Letter on the right to adequate housing

    November 2019

    Read more here

ASH and Partner Submissions to the Universal Periodic Review

ASH statements at the HRC