WHO FCTC Article 5.3: From Policy to Practice (2019)

The Global Center for Good Governance in Tobacco Control (GGTC), the Framework Convention Secretariat Knowledge Hub on Article 5.3, organized its first 2019 webinar series on "WHO FCTC Article 5.3: From Policy to Practice." The two-part series aimed at sharing lessons learned in implementing Article 5.3 guidelines by examining two key topics: Making the tobacco industry accountable and addressing challenges in implementing Article 5.3. The webinars were well-received and have provided a good opportunity for tobacco control focal points to draw on the speakers’ expertise on the progress in implementing Article 5.3.

For the first webinar, Mr. Dominique Nguyen of the WHO Framework Convention in Tobacco Control Secretariat situated the importance of Article 5.3 within the Sustainable Development Goal target 3.a and the Global Strategy to Accelerate Tobacco Control. On the other hand, Atty. Deborah Sy of GGTC provided an overview of policies, practices and tools in communicating, governing and regulating for purposes of Article 5.3 implementation. Atty. Davi Bressler of Brazil’s Attorney General’s Office wrapped up the session by presenting the country's experience in filing a lawsuit against the tobacco industry.

During the second webinar, challenges in implementing Article 5.3 were drawn from country case studies and lessons learned from India, Thailand and France; and were presented by highly-respected tobacco control experts, namely Dr. L Swasticharan from India’s Ministry of Health, Dr. Prakit Vathesatogkit from Action on Smoking and Health Thailand and Ms. Emmanuelle Beguinot from the French National Committee on Tobacco Control. Dr. Mary Assunta, Head of Global Research and Advocacy at GGTC, chaired both sessions.