In the last 20 years, the use of tobacco has fallen by one -third globally, and today it is compared to 2005 compared to 2005, it is estimated that 118 million fewer tobacco users.
Why? To a large extent because 20 years ago, after years of negotiations, the Who FCTC control control was one of the most accepted contracts of the United Nations in history.
WHO FCTC was and remains a landmark in international law: the first contract that negotiated in accordance with the WHO Constitution, which included several measures to control demand and tobacco offers.
Today, the Convention has 183 parties, covering 90 percent of the world’s population. More than 5.6 billion people are protected by comprehensive implementation of at least one tobacco control measure.
For example, 138 countries now require great picture health warnings about cigarette packages, and dozens of countries implemented ordinary packaging rules that forbid branding on cigarette packages, making them less attractive.
In addition, 66 countries implemented prohibition on advertising, promotion and sponsorship of tobacco; More than one quarter of the world’s population is protected by a ban in closed smoking and other smoking laws; and increased taxes on tobacco products to reduce their accessibility, remains the most payable tool to reduce consumption. Tobacco taxes can also increase state revenues for tobacco control and health financing.
Furthermore, in 2018, an additional legal instrument came into force: a protocol for removing all forms of illegal tobacco trade, which undermines control measures, reduces tax revenue and encourages criminal activity.
Despite this progress, tobacco is still a leading cause of death that can also be prevented by the main driver of heart disease, stroke, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes.
It remains about 1.3 billion tobacco users globally, and encouraged the multi -million dollar industry that pierces addiction and deadly products and profit from the suffering of those who use them.
Faced with a decrease in cigarette sales, the industry turns to new products, such as e-cigarettes, which are falsely advertised as healthier alternatives-generating poisonous substances, some of which knew that cancer, and some that increase the risk of heart and lung disorders.
Tobacco producers do not save efforts to connect millions of young people to their products. Only 56 countries will reach a global goal of 30 percent of the use of tobacco by 2025.
Tobacco is not just a health problem. Threatens sustainable development as a whole. Economic smoking costs, in terms of health costs and productivity losses, are estimated at 1.8 percent of the world’s annual gross domestic product.
Our planet is also among the victims of tobacco. About 4.5 trillion of cigarette asses are rejected every year in our environment – the second highest form of plastic contamination in our world. Valuable agricultural land and water are spent on tobacco growing instead of food. Tobacco production and consumption also contribute to global warming, letting 80 million tons of carbon dioxide into the air each year.
For all these reasons, WHO FCTC remains relevant today as when it came into force 20 years ago, although its implementation remained uneven in all countries and many areas require strengthening.
All countries can do more, including a prohibition of sponsorship and tobacco advertising in traditional media and social media, and the protection of public health policies from the interpretation of the tobacco industry.
Completely implementing their provisions, countries can protect the health of their people, their economies and the environment over the next decade.
The views expressed in this article are authors and do not reflect the editorial stance of Al Jazeere.
