WHO Celebrates 20 Years of Lifesaving Tobacco Control Treaty: A Legacy of Progress and a Renewed Call to Action
Geneva, Switzerland – 2025-02-25: The World Health Organization (WHO) today marked the 20th anniversary of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), a landmark international treaty designed to reduce the global burden of tobacco-related diseases and deaths. Celebrations were held worldwide, reflecting the FCTC’s profound impact on public health.
The FCTC, adopted in 2003 and entering into force on February 27, 2005, represents a legally binding commitment by its Parties (currently 182 countries and the European Union) to implement a range of measures to control tobacco use. These measures are based on evidence and best practices and address both the demand and supply of tobacco.
A Legacy of Success:
Speaking at a commemorative event in Geneva, WHO Director-General Dr. Anya Sharma highlighted the FCTC’s significant achievements over the past two decades. “The FCTC has been instrumental in saving millions of lives and preventing countless cases of disease,” she stated. “It has provided a framework for governments to implement effective tobacco control policies, leading to a global decline in smoking prevalence.”
Some of the key successes attributed to the FCTC include:
- Reduced Smoking Prevalence: Globally, smoking rates have declined from around 33% in 2000 to approximately 20% in 2024. This translates to a substantial decrease in the number of smokers worldwide, despite population growth.
- Implementation of Smoke-Free Policies: Many countries have implemented smoke-free laws in public places, including workplaces, restaurants, and bars. These laws protect non-smokers from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke.
- Larger and More Prominent Health Warnings: The FCTC encourages the use of larger and more prominent health warnings on tobacco packaging, including graphic images, to effectively communicate the dangers of tobacco use.
- Restrictions on Tobacco Advertising, Promotion, and Sponsorship: Many countries have banned or severely restricted tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship, limiting the industry’s ability to attract new users, particularly young people.
- Increased Tobacco Taxation: Raising taxes on tobacco products is one of the most effective ways to reduce tobacco use. The FCTC encourages Parties to implement tax policies that make tobacco less affordable, especially for vulnerable populations.
- Combating Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products: The FCTC Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products aims to eliminate all forms of illicit trade in tobacco products, including smuggling and counterfeiting.
The Evolving Landscape and New Challenges:
Despite the significant progress made, the WHO acknowledges that tobacco control faces new and evolving challenges. The tobacco industry continues to innovate and adapt, developing new products like e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products, often marketed as safer alternatives to traditional cigarettes. These products raise concerns about their long-term health effects and their potential to attract young people to nicotine addiction.
Furthermore, the tobacco industry actively attempts to undermine tobacco control policies through lobbying, litigation, and deceptive marketing tactics.
Renewed Call to Action:
The WHO used the 20th anniversary to issue a renewed call to action for all Parties to the FCTC to accelerate implementation of the treaty and address the new challenges posed by the evolving tobacco landscape.
Specifically, the WHO urged Parties to:
- Strengthen existing tobacco control measures: This includes further increasing tobacco taxes, expanding smoke-free policies, and enhancing health warnings.
- Regulate new and emerging tobacco products: This includes implementing comprehensive regulations on e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products to prevent youth uptake and protect public health. The regulations should be based on scientific evidence and should not allow these products to be marketed as safe alternatives to cigarettes without sufficient proof.
- Counter the tobacco industry’s interference: This includes strengthening laws and policies to protect public health policymaking from the influence of the tobacco industry.
- Invest in tobacco control research and surveillance: This includes conducting more research on the health effects of new and emerging tobacco products and improving surveillance systems to monitor tobacco use trends.
- Provide support to low- and middle-income countries: These countries often face significant challenges in implementing tobacco control policies due to limited resources and capacity. The WHO calls for increased international support to help these countries strengthen their tobacco control efforts.
Looking Ahead:
The next Conference of the Parties (COP) to the FCTC, scheduled for November 2025, will provide an opportunity for Parties to discuss these challenges and develop strategies to accelerate implementation of the treaty.
“The FCTC remains the most effective tool we have to combat the global tobacco epidemic,” concluded Dr. Sharma. “By working together and strengthening our commitment to tobacco control, we can create a healthier and more sustainable future for all.”
The anniversary celebrations also included panel discussions with public health experts, tobacco control advocates, and survivors of tobacco-related diseases. These discussions highlighted the importance of a comprehensive approach to tobacco control, involving governments, civil society organizations, and individuals. The message was clear: the fight against tobacco is far from over, and continued vigilance and action are essential to protect future generations from the devastating health consequences of tobacco use.
WHO marks 20 years of its lifesaving tobacco control treaty
The AI has provided us with the news.
I asked Google Gemini the following question.
Top Stories a new article on 2025-02-25 12:00 titled “WHO marks 20 years of its lifesaving tobacco control treaty”. Please write a detailed article on this news item, including any relevant information. Answers should be in English.
41