Education, communication, training and public awareness

The purpose of Article 12 is to promote measures to inform and raise public awareness of the consequences of tobacco consumption. It aims to increase public awareness of tobacco control issues, using all available tools, as appropriate, such as media campaigns, education programs and training.

In particular, Article 12 seeks to promote:

1. broad access to effective and comprehensive educational and public awareness programs on the health risks including the addictive characteristics of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke

2. public awareness about the health risks of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke, and about the benefits of the cessation of tobacco use and tobacco-free lifestyles as specified in Article 14.2

3. public access, in accordance with national law, to a wide range of information on the tobacco industry as relevant to the objective of the Convention

4. effective and appropriate training or sensitization and awareness programs on tobacco control addressed to persons such as health workers, community workers, social workers, media professionals, educators, decision-makers, administrators and other concerned persons

5. awareness and participation of public and private agencies and nongovernmental organizations not affiliated with the tobacco industry in developing and implementing intersectoral programs and strategies for tobacco control

6. public awareness of and access to information regarding the adverse health, economic, and environmental consequences of tobacco production and consumption

Source: WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. Geneva: World Health Organization 2003, updated reprint 2004, 2005.

Guidelines for the implementation of Article 12

You may be interested in the Guidelines for the implementation of Article 12, you can download them here.