Should tobacco control advocates be recognized as human rights defenders?
Growing awareness of intimidation faced by tobacco control advocates has prompted consideration of whether and how the legal framework used to protect human rights defenders (HRD) in the international system might strengthen protection for tobacco control advocates as well.
ASH Managing Attorney Kelsey Romeo-Stuppy and Tobacco Control Research Group (TCRG) research fellow Dr. Britta Matthes published a paper on the topic in 2025.
To further consider this question, including how to encourage both the human rights and tobacco control communities to take action, ASH and the University of Bath convened a meeting of experts.