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Navigating Tobacco Interference with the WHO FCTC for Article 5.3's Resource Database
Moving from Smoke Screens to Clear Views
The tobacco industry has an extensive track record of obstructing public health programs that seek to diminish tobacco consumption. Interference in this context encompasses many activities such as exerting influence on governments through lobbying, financing research that minimizes the health hazards of tobacco, and promoting tobacco products in manners that attract minors.
The Resource Database of the WHO FCTC Knowledge Hub for Article 5.3, in collaboration with Global Center for Good Governance in Tobacco Control (GGTC), is an essential instrument for safeguarding public health policy against intervention from the tobacco industry. The database is an extensive compilation of papers provided by tobacco-related corporations to government agencies, as well as contributions by groups and individuals advocating for the tobacco industry's interests. The documents encompass position papers, statements, reports, and other pertinent items.
The Resource Database of WHO FCTC Knowledge Hub for Article 5.3 promotes openness and accountability in tobacco control policy formulation and implementation by making these papers publicly accessible. The database may be utilized by researchers, politicians, and the public to gain knowledge about the strategies employed by the tobacco industry and to ensure that governments are held responsible for their tobacco control measures.
Click on this link to access the Resource Database and equip yourself with knowledge and information to combat the meddling of the tobacco industry.
Background Information on WHO FCTC Knowledge Hub for Article 5.3
The World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) is the first international health treaty, where 182 countries covering more than 90% of the world population, are Parties to this Convention. The WHO FCTC entered into force in 2005 and Thailand ratified the Convention in 2004.
The WHO FCTC became a critical instrument for countries to respond to the devasting health impact of tobacco use which responsible for over 8 million deaths annually. Since its commencement, the Conference of Parties (COP) has been the platform for Parties to elaborate the various provisions prescribed in the WHO FCTC in order to strengthen its obligations under the Convention. COP 10 will take place in November of this year. In order to assist Parties in implementing the WHO FCTC, the Convention Secretariat establishes Knowledge Hubs (KH) to be the knowledge base and provide technical assistance upon request by Parties. Presently, there are nine Knowledge Hubs across the globe where each KH focuses on a particular article of the Convention.
In 2017, the Convention Secretariat appointed the Global Center for Good Governance in Tobacco Control (GGTC) as the WHO FCTC Knowledge Hub for Article 5.3. This Knowledge Hub, established in partnership with the School of Global Studies at Thammasat University and the Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance, hosted at the School of Global Studies, Thammasat University in Thailand. Its primary mission revolves around curbing tobacco industry interference in the implementation of the Convention. Since 2017 until December 2022, the work of WHO FCTC Knowledge Hub for Article 5.3 at the Global Center for Good Governance in Tobacco Control (GGTC) has spanned the globe by providing technical assistance, producing policy briefs and other critical publications, developing toolkits, and serving as a clearinghouse for information on tobacco industry tactics used to influence public health policies.
Since 2023, the Convention Secretariat is embarking on the new phase of the Knowledge Hubs which includes Knowledge Hub for Article 5.3. We are thrilled to announce a new partnership between Thammasat University and Mahidol University in launching the next phase of the WHO FCTC Knowledge Hub for Article 5.3. The knowledge hub will continue to be hosted physically at Thammasat University's School of Global Studies. Our top priority remains assisting Parties in implementing Article 5.3 of the WHO FCTC, promoting good governance and policy coherence in tobacco control, and preventing tobacco industry interference in public health policies.
Our works continue to focus on the following:
Our top priority remains assisting Parties in implementing Article 5.3 of the WHO FCTC, promoting good governance and policy coherence in tobacco control, and preventing tobacco industry interference in public health policies.
The evolving transformation of the tobacco industry is far ahead of tobacco control efforts. In order to counter their dynamism and vast resources, a concerted effort by organizations and individuals committed to protecting public health policy from tobacco industry interference is needed. This would be the key to thwarting their efforts to undermine the Parties' resolve to successfully implement the WHO FCTC. These efforts will also be in line with specific objective 3.2.4 of the Global Strategy to Accelerate Tobacco Control, that is, implementing WHO FCTC Article 5.3 and continually monitor tobacco industry activities at the national and international arena. Thus, at the WHO FCTC Knowledge Hub for Article 5.3, we are committed to achieving our mission by leveraging the knowledge and experiences of our international, regional, and national collaborators who share our objectives.
Together, we look forward to achieving the vision of full compliance with WHO FCTC Article 5.3 and attaining the goals prescribed in the Global Strategy to Accelerate Tobacco Control by all Parties.
