TOBACCO EPIDEMIC

WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic, 2019

The “WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic 2019: offer help to quit tobacco use” tracks the status of the tobacco epidemic and interventions to combat it. The report finds that more countries have implemented tobacco control policies, ranging from graphic warnings and advertising bans to no smoking areas.

Read More

WHO global report: mortality attributable to tobacco

This report provides information by country on the proportion of adult (age 30 years and above) deaths attributable to tobacco by major communicable and non-communicable causes by age and sex. It builds and is consistent with the global estimate provided in WHO’s 2009 report entitled Global health risks: mortality and burden of disease attributable to selected major risks.

Read More

FRAMEWORK CONVENTION ON TOBACCO CONTROL (FCTC)

WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control

The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) is the first international treaty negotiated under the auspices of WHO. It was adopted by the World Health Assembly on 21 May 2003 and entered into force on 27 February 2005.

Read More

The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control: 10 years of implementation in the African Region

This 10-year report highlights the achievements made in the African Region in implementing the WHO FCTC during the period February 2005 to December 2014.

Read More

Guidelines for implementation of Article 5.3 of the WHO FCTC

At its third session in November 2008, the Conference of the Parties (COP) adopted guidelines for implementation of Article 5.3 of the WHO FCTC on the protection of public health policies with respect to tobacco control from commercial and other vested interests of the tobacco industry (decision FCTC/COP3(7).

Read More

Guidelines for implementation of Article 6 of the WHO FCTC

Tax and price policies are widely recognized to be one of the most effective means of influencing the demand for and thus the consumption of tobacco products. Consequently, implementation of Article 6 of the WHO FCTC is an essential element of tobacco-control policies and thereby efforts to improve public health.

Read More

Guidelines for implementation of Article 8 of the WHO FCTC

Consistent with other provisions of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and the intentions of the Conference of the Parties, these guidelines are intended to assist Parties in meeting their obligations under Article 8 of the Convention.

Read More

Guidelines for implementation of Article 11 of the WHO FCTC

These guidelines propose measures that Parties can use to increase the effectiveness of their packaging and labelling measures. Article 11 stipulates that each Party shall adopt and implement effective packaging and labelling measures within a period of three years after entry into force of the Convention for that Party.

Read More

Guidelines for implementation of Article 12 of the WHO FCTC

The guidelines propose measures to increase the effectiveness of education, communication and training efforts that raise public awareness of matters related to tobacco control. The guidelines draw on the available research-based evidence, best practices and experience gained by Parties.

Read More

Guidelines for implementation of Article 13 of the WHO FCTC

The guidelines draw on the best available evidence and the experience of Parties that have successfully implemented effective measures against tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship. They give Parties guidance for introducing and enforcing a comprehensive ban on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship….

Read More

Guidelines for implementation of Article 14 of the WHO FCTC

The purpose of these guidelines is to assist Parties in meeting their obligations under Article 14 of the WHO FCTC, consistent with their obligations under other provisions of the Convention and with the intentions of the Conference of the Parties, on the basis of the best available scientific evidence and taking into account national circumstances and priorities.

Read More

Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products

The new treaty aims at eliminating all forms of illicit trade in tobacco products. It provides tools for preventing illicit trade by securing the supply chain, including by establishing an international tracking and tracing system, by countering illicit trade through dissuasive law enforcement measures and a suite of measures to enable international cooperation.

Read More

LEGISLATION/ POLICIES

MPOWER A Policy Package to Reverse the Tobacco Epidemic (WHO)

The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) and its guidelines provide the foundation for countries to implement and manage tobacco control. To help make this a reality, WHO introduced the MPOWER measures. These measures are intended to assist in the country-level implementation of effective ….

Read More

Tobacco control legislation: an introductory guide (WHO)

This guide systematically discusses the information that will be needed to develop tobacco control legislation. It can be applied to the enactment of legislation at the national,subnational and local levels. The guide considers the role of legislation, key terms and concepts, capacity-building, strategic choices in legislation ….

Read More

Tobacco control in Africa: People, politics and policies

This volume presents the work initiated and executed under the African Tobacco Situational Analyses, a recent major public health initiative sponsored by the Canada’s International Development Research Centre. Conceived to illuminate the factors that will facilitate the reform of Africa’s major public health policies, this program focused particularly (but not exclusively) on policies concerning tobacco.

Read More

ECONOMICS OF TOBACCO CONTROL

Curbing the epidemic: governments and the economics of tobacco control, 1999 (World Bank)

The World Bank examined in a 1999 Report, Curbing the Epidemic, Governments and the Economics of Tobacco Control, the economic questions that policymakers must address when contemplating tobacco control. This report demonstrates that the economic fears deterring policymakers from taking action are largely unfounded.

Read More

Raising tax on tobacco What you need to Know WHO

Raising taxes on tobacco is the most effective policy to reduce tobacco use. It is also the most cost-effective. This short brochure gives examples of how countries including France, the Philippines and Turkey have successfully introduced strong tobacco tax policies. It also breaks down the myths spread by the tobacco ….

Read More

Tobacco and Alcohol Excise Taxes for Improving Public Health and Revenue Outcomes1Tobacco and Alcohol Excise Taxes for ImprovingPublic Health and Revenue Outcomes: Marrying Sin and Virtue? (World Bank)

Excise taxes on alcohol and tobacco have long been a dependable and significant revenue source in many countries. More recently, considerable attention has been paid to the way in which such taxes may also be used to attain public health objectives by reducing the consumption of products with adverse health and…

Read More

The Economics of Tobacco Control in South Africa

South Africa was able to implement an effective tobacco control policy over a short period of time. In retrospect the costs were comparatively small; the benefits, mainly in the form of reduced cigarette consumption and reduced tobacco-related mortality and morbidity, were substantial. The main ingredient in South Africa’s strategy was political will. South Africa’s success can be replicated in other countries, as long as the political will and conviction is present.

Read More

SMOKE-FREE ENVIRONMENTS

Policy recommendations on protection from exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke, 2007

The recommendations aim to elucidate for WHO Member States the science on SHS exposure as well as the health and economic benefits of smoke-free laws and to guide decision-makers in developing and implementing evidence-based and enforceable smoke-free policies.

Read More

Making cities smoke-free

This publication is intended as a technical resource to assist Member States implementing Article 8 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) and its guidelines in order to fully protect people from tobacco smoke.

Read More

PICTORIAL HEALTH WARNINGS AND PLAIN PACKAGING

WHO FCTC health warnings database

This website, which was developed following a decision by the Conference of the Parties to the WHO FCTC at its third session, is designed to facilitate the sharing of such pictorial health warnings and messages among countries and Parties, and will continue to be updated on a regular basis as countries and Parties provide these images.

Read More

The Africa pictorial health warnings resource

This online resource contains 43 warning images that can be used by Parties to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control to warn people about the consequences of tobacco use, in accord with Convention’s Article 11 (Packaging and labelling) and Article 12 (Education and Public Awareness). The images have been field tested by the World Lung Foundation who was commissioned by the Convention a Secretariat to undertake the study across Sub-Saharan Africa and are provided with suggested text messages in English and French

Read More

MONITORING THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY

New technology tobacco products and PMI-funded foundation for a smoke-free world: Useful information for tobacco control advocates

Read More

This document is a compilation from the African Tobacco Control Alliance (ATCA) on the new technology tobacco products as well as the PMI-funded Foundation for a Smoke-Free World (FSFW). The purpose of the compilation is to provide tobacco control advocates in the region with the latest information on FSFW and the new technology tobacco products which are being marketed by the tobacco industry as so-called ‘harm reduction’ products and as an alternative to traditional forms of tobacco products.

Tobacco industry strategies to undermine tobacco control activities at the World Health Organization, 2000 (WHO)

Evidence from tobacco industry documents reveals that tobacco companies have operated for many years with the deliberate purpose of subverting the efforts of the World Health Organization (WHO) to control tobacco use.

Read More

Technical resource for country implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Article 5.3 (WHO)

This technical resource presents information to support the implementation of the Article 5.3 Guidelines by sharing practical action steps and best practices and examples applicable to the implementation of Article 5.3. This technical resource should be used in association with the text of the WHO Framework Convention and with its Article 5.3 Guidelines.

Read More

Tobacco industry and corporate responsibility … an inherent contradiction, 2004 (WHO)

This document has been developed by WHO’S Tobacco Free Initiative, pursuant to WHA Resolution 54.18, Transparency in Tobacco Control Process, that “calls on WHO to continue to inform Member States on activities of the tobacco industry that have negative impact on tobacco control efforts”.

Read More

British American Tobacco in Africa: A Past and Present of Double Standards

Despite claims of responsibility and transparency, evidence shows BAT has breached its own business mandates, sometimes violating international codes of conduct and the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. Internal documents describe BAT’s advertising, marketing, and sales strategies in Africa.

Read More

CAPACITY BUILDING

Assessing the national capacity to implement effective tobacco control policies

This manual describes a methodology for use by governments and civil society to assess a country’s capacity to implement tobacco control measures effectively. A national capacity assessment is a joint exercise between a government and the WHO, with the participation of national and international partners,……

Read More

NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASES (NCDS)

Global action plan for the prevention and control of NCDs 2013-2020 (WHO)

The action plan provides a road map and a menu of policy options for all Member States and other stakeholders, to take coordinated and coherent action, at all levels, local to global, to attain the nine voluntary global targets, including that of a 25% relative reduction in premature mortality from cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes or chronic respiratory diseases by 2025.

Read More

WHO tools to prevent and control non-communicable diseases (WHO)

This section provides links to WHO tools for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) – from setting national targets and developing national multisectoral policies and plans to measuring results. The list of tools is not exhaustive but is intended to provide information and guidance on effectiveness and ……

Read More

WHO Global Status Report on NCDs (WHO)

This global status report on prevention and control of NCDs (2014), is framed around the nine voluntary global targets. The report provides data on the current situation, identifying bottlenecks as well as opportunities and priority actions for attaining the targets. The 2010 baseline estimates on NCD mortality and risk factors…..

Read More

United Nations high-level meeting on non – communicable disease prevention and control (WHO)

Non communicable diseases – or NCDs – like heart attacks and strokes, cancers, diabetes and chronic respiratory disease account for over 63% of deaths in the world today. Every year, NCDs kill 9 million people under 60. The socio-economic impact is staggering. Download here the Political declaration adopted at the UN General Assembly, Summary report of the discussions at the round tables.

Read More

TOBACCO MARKETING

Smoke-free movies: from evidence to action, Second edition

WHO releases the second edition of the smoke-free movies report. It underlines the fact that, in some countries, many of the youth-rated films that contain tobacco imagery are the recipients of significant government production subsidies. WHO calls for enforceable policies to restrict smoking in movies, including the end of public subsidies for the production of movies with smoking.

Read More

Smoking in the movies (CDC)

This fact sheet presents an overview and background information on smoking in movies. It also provides findings of research conducted in 2014.

Read More

WOMEN AND TOBACCO USE

Gender, women, and the tobacco epidemic

This monograph contributes to the scientific understanding of gender, women, and tobacco in the context of efforts to control the global tobacco epidemic. Topics covered include determinants of starting to use tobacco; exposure to second-hand smoke; the impact that tobacco use has on health; addiction and cessation; treatment programmes; and gender and human rights policy.

Read More

Tobacco Industry Targeting of Women and Girls

The tobacco companies have long understood the importance of women and girls in the overall market for cigarettes and as a source of new customers. By focusing their research on how females view themselves, their aspirations and the social pressures they face, the cigarette companies have developed some of the most aggressive and sophisticated marketing campaigns in history for reaching and influencing women and girls.

Read More

CHILDREN AND SMOKING

How We Can Protect Our Children from Secondhand Smoke: A Parent’s Guide (CDC)

Secondhand smoke comes from lit cigarettes and cigars. It also comes from smoke breathed out by smokers. When children breathe secondhand smoke, it is like they are smoking, too. Secondhand smoke is made of thousands of chemicals. Many are poisons that stay in your body. What do these poisons do?

Read More

How Parents Can Protect Their Kids From Becoming Addicted Smokers

Parents can take a number of effective actions to protect their kids from starting to smoke or becoming another one of the tobacco industry’s addicted customers and victims. Being good parents and role models is important, but it takes much more to prevent kids from smoking.

Read More

Tobacco Companies Cannot Survive Unless Kids Smoke

The big tobacco companies have initiated massive public relations campaigns to persuade government policymakers and the public that they have turned over a new leaf and are now responsible corporate citizens. But they are lying.

Read More

TOBACCO FARMING/ ALTERNATIVE LIVELIHOODS

Tobacco control and tobacco farming: Separating myths from reality (IDRC)

The bulk of the world’s tobacco is produced in low- and middle-income countries. In order to dissuade these countries from implementing policies aimed at curbing tobacco consumption (such as increased taxes, health warnings, advertising bans and smoke-free environments), the tobacco industry claims that tobacco farmers…..

Read More

MEDIA

The Role of the Media in Promoting and Reducing Tobacco Use (National Cancer Institute, USA)

The work presented in the National Cancer Institute’s Tobacco Control Monograph 19, The Role of the Media in Promoting and Reducing Tobacco Use, is the most current and comprehensive distillation of the scientific literature on media communications in tobacco promotion and tobacco control.

Read More

OTHER RESOURCES

The Tobacco Atlas (ACS)

The Atlas graphically details the scale of the tobacco epidemic; the harmful influence of tobacco on health, poverty, social justice, and the environment; the progress that has been made in tobacco control; and the latest products and tactics being deployed by the industry to protect its profits and delay and derail tobacco control.

Read More

The Cancer Atlas (ACS)

The American Cancer Society, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, and the Union for International Cancer Control developed the Cancer Atlas to give the global cancer community a new tool in the fight against cancer. Leaders worldwide can arm themselves with actionable data and insights to make better decisions

Read More