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Submission of the President of the Conference of the Parties to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control to the thematic review of the 2022 United Nations High-level Political Forum
“Building back better from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) while advancing the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”
The WHO FCTC and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic
The objective of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) is to protect present and future generations from the devastating health, social, environmental and economic consequences of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke. The WHO FCTC is an evidence-based treaty that reaffirms the right of all people to the highest standard of health. There are 182 Parties to the treaty, all of which “are determined to give priority to their right to protect public health”.
Tobacco constitutes a serious challenge to sustainable development around the world. Target 3.a of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) specifically calls for strengthening implementation of the WHO FCTC, as the treaty is considered an accelerator for sustainable development overall.1 The contribution of the WHO FCTC to advance sustainable development and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development has been recognized in the Global Strategy to Accelerate Tobacco Control: Advancing Sustainable Development through the Implementation of the WHO FCTC 2019–2025, adopted by the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the WHO FCTC at its Eighth session.
In its submission to the thematic review of the 2021 United Nations High-level Political Forum, the President of the COP already had highlighted the negative impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the implementation of the WHO FCTC, as well as its related impact on the SDGs. One of the main highlights of the Ninth session of the COP (COP9) in November 2021 – delayed by one year due to the pandemic – was the adoption of the Declaration on WHO FCTC and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. In the Declaration, the COP acknowledged the role of the WHO FCTC as an accelerator for the achievement of the SDGs and stated that comprehensive implementation of the WHO FCTC would play a crucial role in supporting efforts by Parties towards recovery from the pandemic. It has also explicitly called on Parties to include actions to achieve SDG Target 3.a and SDG Target 3.4 on the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) as an integral component of national recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Secretariat of the WHO FCTC (Convention Secretariat) is promoting the inclusion of a reference to SDG Target 3.a in the voluntary national reviews of Parties’ progress towards the SDGs...(see complete submission in "Document")
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Submission of the President of the Meeting of the Parties to the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products to the thematic review of the 2022 United Nations High-level Political Forum
“Building back better from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) while advancing the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”.
The Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products was developed in response to a growing concern by Parties to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) regarding illicit trade in tobacco products and its role in fuelling the tobacco epidemic. The Protocol's objective is to eliminate all forms of illicit trade in tobacco products by fostering the progressive adoption and implementation of different legislative, executive and administrative measures by countries acting in cooperation with each other. The Protocol entered into force on 25 September 2018 and currently has 64 Parties.
The production and consumption of tobacco products has devastating health, social, environmental and economic consequences. Target 3.a of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) specifically calls for strengthening implementation of the WHO FCTC. The evidence-based tobacco control measures contained in the Convention therefor represent an accelerator for sustainable development[1], but illicit trade in tobacco products undermines their impact. Illicit trade makes tobacco products more affordable and accessible and causes substantial losses in tax revenues. Eliminating the illicit trade in tobacco improves public health and safeguards important revenues that can be utilized by governments to finance recovery from say the COVID-19 pandemic and also to help propel sustainable development, in line with the Addis Ababa Action Agenda. The global revenue potential from eliminating illicit cigarettes is estimated at US$ 47.4 billion per year.
In his submission to the thematic review of the 2021 United Nations High-level Political Forum, the President of the Meeting of the Parties (MOP) to the Protocol has already highlighted the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the implementation of a new treaty such as the Protocol.
The second session of the MOP (MOP2) – delayed by one year due to the pandemic- acknowledged that technical and financial assistance and capacity-building are crucial for success in the implementation of the Protocol, especially in developing countries and countries with economies in transition. MOP2 also decided to invite competent international and regional intergovernmental organizations to apply for the status of observer to the MOP and/or contribute to the implementation of the Protocol...(see complete submission in "Document")
