Media Contact: Megan Manning manningm@ash.org (202) 390 – 9513 Nations Advance Global Health at WHO Tobacco Treaty Negotiations Decisions on Liability, Environment and Forward-Looking Measures Blaze a Path towards Endgame GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – NOVEMBER 22, 2025 – Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) led an esteemed delegation to the 11th Conference of
November 22, 2025 – The theme of COP 11 was “Uniting Generations for a Tobacco-Free Future;” a theme which turned out to be an apt indicator of the progress that was made. Article 2.1- Forward Looking Measures In advance of the COP, an Expert Group met and drafted a report
November 21, 2025 – Throughout the opening statements by the Parties at the COP Plenary on Day 1, government delegations were consistent in congratulating the President of the Convention, and then they would go through the various articles to which they claimed compliance. It was so very striking how minimal
November 20, 2025 – As predicted in the Day 3 blog, debate about the Article 2.1 Expert Group report and decision on Forward Looking Measures (also known as tobacco endgame) soaked up time until the end of the day. These measures are broadly grouped under four domains: tobacco supply, institutional structure/market,
November 19, 2025 – The third day of COP11 had mixed outcomes. Agenda items included making UN campuses nicotine and aerosol free, Article 18 on the Environment, and Article 19 on Liability as well as Article 2.1 Forward-Looking Measures (FLMs) – all ASH priorities. Article 19 on Liability was a
November 18, 2025 – Today the COP shifted in high gear and began debating substantive issues. First on the docket is Article 2.1, Forward-Looking Measures (FLMs). ASH has taken a lead on this issue for the civil society community for one important reason – the report on FLMs that the
November 17, 2025 – Greetings from Geneva and the 11th Conference of the Parties (COP) of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. The COP officially began today, but of course a lot of the work is done before the first gavel falls. The day began with a civil society
February 10, 2024 – COP10 was particularly special because several cross-cutting issues – human rights, the environment, and the tobacco endgame – were on the agenda. ASH and the Global Alliance for Tobacco Control (then the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control) led advocacy for a human rights decision at COP8
February 9, 2024 – Today is the second to last day of the 10th Conference of the Parties, and the Parties still have agenda items left to discuss, but they have also gotten through several of their important agenda items. Yesterday, the government of Ecuador proposed a Decision on the
February 8, 2024 – How the Sausage Gets Made Few of us have ever made actual sausage. But we’ll explain the process anyway, and then compare it to how things get done at FCTC COP. To make sausage, you need some casing, some meat and spices. You grind everything up, and
February 7, 2024 – Today was another packed day for the ASH delegation here in Panama. Several of ASH’s policy priorities have come up on the agenda of the COP. Unfortunately, fruitful debates on these items have been delayed because of country Parties spouting tobacco industry rhetoric. However, that has
February 6, 2024 – A typical day at the Conference of the Parties begins very early and ends very late, and today was no different. At 7:00 AM, ASH begins by meeting with our civil society allies to discuss strategy for the day. Starting at 9:00 AM, we attend meetings
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
By: Kelsey Romeo-Stuppy, Managing Attorney at ASH Throughout my time at ASH, I have visited the United Nations, both in New York and in Geneva, many times. But every single time I step onto a UN campus, I’m awestruck. This is where international change is made, and I am so
The FDA Continues to Delay Protecting Americans from Mentholated Cigarettes August 2023 was the deadline announced by FDA to propose a rule WASHINGTON, DC – AUGUST 31, 2023 – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) missed their self-imposed deadline to propose a life-saving rule to ban menthol as a
By Kelsey Romeo-Stuppy, ASH and Dr. Raglan Maddox, ANU College of Health and Medicine While commercial tobacco use negatively impacts the right to health of all people, there are many groups whom have been intentionally targeted by the tobacco industry and their affiliates.[1] Groups have had their culture exploited for
Media Contact: Megan Arendt 202-390-9513 Statement on FDA’s Proposed Rule Banning Menthol as a Characterizing Flavor Statement of Kelsey Romeo-Stuppy, Managing Attorney at Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) WASHINGTON, DC – April 28, 2022 – Today, Action on Smoking and Health is thrilled to celebrate the news that the Food
Media Contact: Megan Arendt (202) 659 – 4310 ASH Commends FDA for Finally Starting Process to Save Black Lives Menthol in Cigarettes is a Known Deadly Combination that Must End WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 25, 2022 – After many years of delay and a directive from a federal judge, today
Kelsey Romeo-Stuppy has been a leader in global tobacco control since 2013. As Managing Attorney, Kelsey leads ASH’s program on liability, including pursuing criminal and civil cases against the tobacco industry for the harm they cause. Of note, she led ASH’s successful involvement in suing the FDA, with partner organizations,
Media Contact: Megan Arendt arendtm@ash.org (202)390-9513 97 Organizations Agree, UN Human Rights Committee Must Address Menthol Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) leads 97 organizations from around the world in this public health appeal to end racial discrimination Washington, DC – April 21, 2021 – Today, as we continue to
ASH Webinar on WHO FCTC Article 19: Using the Judicial System to Fight Tobacco November 10, 2020 Statement from Kelsey Romeo-Stuppy, Managing Attorney at ASH Article 19: How it has been utilized, how it could be utilized, and problems that might arise in the process. My presentation today is
This press release was re-issued on September 3rd and December 3rd, 2020 with the addition of the American Medical Association (AMA) and National Medical Association (NMA) as a co-plantiffs. See the latest news release here. THE AFRICAN AMERICAN TOBACCO CONTROL LEADERSHIP COUNCIL (AATCLC) AND ACTION ON SMOKING AND HEALTH
ASH Webinar on Endgame for Tobacco: The World We Want June 11, 2020 Statement from Kelsey Romeo-Stuppy, Managing Attorney at ASH I wanted to give you all a quick overview of the tobacco treaty- the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Megan Arendt Office: 202-659-4310 Email: arendtm@ash.org Does Tobacco Violate Human Rights? Inter-American Commission Ponders Question WASHINGTON, D.C. – April 6, 2016 – The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) heard testimony from experts yesterday on why tobacco should be considered a human rights issue. The thematic
My parents have always told me that they knew I would become a lawyer from a young age because of my favorite childhood expression- “That’s not fair!” As I got older, I never stopped feeling that some things just weren’t fair. I have a passion for the pursuit of justice,
