Today marks the 15th anniversary of the entry into force of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) which came into force on 27 February 2005.
The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) is the only international treaty negotiated under the auspices of WHO. It was adopted by the World Health Assembly on 21 May 2003. It has since become one of the most rapidly and widely embraced treaties within the United Nations.
From today, we are launching an online campaign, in the 6 UN languages, highlighting the achievements and milestones of the treaty.
Join us in the celebration!
A 15-year-old global treaty that protects and saves lives from the harms of tobacco
The aim of the Convention is to protect present and future generations from the devastating health, social, environmental and economic consequences of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke.
For the last 15 years the WHO FCTC has played an important role in curbing the global tobacco epidemic by providing a roadmap for policies and a catalyst for action for stronger tobacco control.
There are 181 Parties to the WHO FCTC covering over 90% of the world’s population.
Achievements for public health
The Convention represents a milestone for the promotion of public health and provides new legal dimensions for international cooperation
As a key achievement in implementation of the Convention, a second treaty, the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products was adopted by the fifth session of the Conference of the Parties in 2012. The Protocol entered into force on 25 September 2018. The Protocol now has 58 Parties.
Strengthening implementation of the WHO FCTC is also fully embedded in the Sustainable Development Goals as target 3.a.
Among many of the achievements low-income and middle-income countries that had weak tobacco control, after ratifying the WHO FCTC have introduced effective tobacco control.
In developed countries with many previous tobacco control measures, the WHO FCTC has clearly facilitated efforts to strengthen tobacco control.
The WHO FCTC has also been instrumental in legal defenses against the tobacco industry and have increased awareness of tobacco industry interference.
After 15 years of existence, the WHO FCTC has succeeded in keeping tobacco control high on the global agenda, while saving lives and improving global health.
The WHO FCTC 15th anniversary campaign
To celebrate this paramount event, the Secretariat is launching from today a campaign with a set of visuals and slogans and messages that we can all use as one united voice to raise awareness about the WHO FCTC and its impact.
The slogans of the campaign are:
Working towards a tobacco-free world
Celebrating 15 years of lives
The main goal of this campaign is to celebrate the 15th year anniversary of the WHO FCTC by acknowledging its momentousness, its achievements and by raising awareness of its profile and its cross-cutting nature and how it can help save lives through its implementation.
Also, with the celebration we want to look to the future and how we can keep working together to fight the global tobacco epidemic through the WHO FCTC.
