COP11 Is an Opportunity for Countries to Reject Big Tobacco and Redouble Efforts to Save Lives

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Next week, nearly every country will gather in Geneva for the Eleventh Conference of the Parties to the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), the public health treaty that obligates countries to implement proven strategies that reduce tobacco use and save lives.

The WHO FCTC has already worked to save tens of millions of lives around the world. At COP11, countries should commit to fully implementing the lifesaving policies called for by the treaty – including higher tobacco taxes, comprehensive smoke-free laws, bold health warnings and bans on tobacco advertising, promotions and sponsorships.

Unfortunately, the tobacco industry remains an unrelenting obstacle to progress. As the WHO warned recently, the industry is intensifying efforts to interfere with COP11 and derail global progress to reduce tobacco use. The industry’s tactics include infiltrating government delegations, funding front groups to do their bidding, and promoting misleading research to cast doubt on proven tobacco control policies.

These actions show that, despite their claims to the contrary, the tobacco companies haven’t changed and continue to put profit before health. Tobacco companies continue to aggressively market and sell cigarettes around the world and do everything they can to defeat and undermine effective tobacco control policies. And they’re constantly introducing new products – like e-cigarettes, nicotine pouches and heated tobacco products – with the goal of addicting new generations of customers.

As countries gather in Geneva, we urge government leaders to stand up to the tobacco industry and take decisive action to save lives. The WHO FCTC provides the tools to end the global tobacco epidemic. Countries must put health before profit and fully implement these proven policies.