1. Action for Prevention
Rula Khoury
Surveillance Officer
Regional Office for Europe
World Health Organization
2. Introduction
We have the solution to the global tobacco epidemic: The WHO FCTC. Let’s use it.
WHO FCTC is a powerful tool
WHO FCTC is a strong stimulus for legislation at the national and EU level
Legislation works
The success of the WHO FCTC and legislation depends on everyone - Empower!
3. Evidence based approach
Background WHO FCTC measures include -
First international treaty to be Monitor tobacco use and prevention policies
negotiated under the auspices of
WHO Protect people from tobacco smoke
Entered into force on 27
February 2005
Offer help to quit tobacco use
46* countries in the Region and
Warn about the dangers of tobacco
the European Community are
Parties Enforce bans on tobacco advertising, promotion, sponsorship
Raise taxes on tobacco
4. Evidence based approach
Monitor tobacco use and prevention policies
Why it is important
Provides important information
about the extent of the tobacco
epidemic
Helps governments allocate
tobacco control resources where
they will be most effective
Shows whether policies are
being followed
Shows whether policies are
working and how they should be
tailored to the needs of different
populations
5. Evidence based approach
Protect people from tobacco smoke
Why it is important It is a powerful and effective tool - it works
There is no safe level of
exposure to second-hand smoke
Helps smokers quit
Reduces youth smoking
Rapid decrease in second hand tobacco smoke by 80-90% in high-
exposure settings
Reduces the incidence of heart attacks almost immediately
Helps smokers who want to quit
Encourages smoke free homes
Results in either a neutral or positive impact on business, including
restaurants and bars
6. Evidence based approach
Protect people from tobacco smoke
Why it is important
There is no safe level of
exposure to second-hand smoke.
Protects people from the harms
of second-hand smoke
Helps smokers quit
Reduces youth smoking
7. Evidence based approach
Offer help to quit tobacco use
It is a powerful and effective tool - it works
Why it is important
When informed of the risks,
most tobacco users want to quit,
but few get support to overcome
their dependence.
8. Evidence based approach
Offer help to quit tobacco use
Why it is important
When informed of the risks,
most tobacco users want to quit,
but few get support to overcome
their dependence.
9. Evidence based approach
Warn about the dangers of tobacco
Why it is important It is a powerful and effective tool - it works
Most tobacco users are
unaware of the harms caused by
tobacco use
Pictorial warnings convey a
clear and immediate message,
especially to youth and people
who cannot read
They reduce the overall
attractiveness of tobacco
packages
10. Evidence based approach
Warn about the dangers of tobacco
Why it is important
Most tobacco users are
unaware of the harms caused by
tobacco use
Pictorial warnings convey a
clear and immediate message,
especially to youth and people
who cannot read
They reduce the overall
attractiveness of tobacco
packages
11. Evidence based approach
Enforce bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship
Why it is important It is a powerful and effective tool - it works
Reduces use
Changes the perception of
tobacco use towards not being
perceived as the norm.
12. Evidence based approach
Enforce bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship
Why it is important
Reduces use
Changes the perception of
tobacco use towards not being
perceived as the norm.
13. Evidence based approach
Raise taxes on tobacco
Why it is important
It is a powerful and effective tool - it works
Encourages tobacco users to
quit
Prevents children and non-
smoker adults from starting to
smoke
Allocating tax revenues for
tobacco control and other
important health and social
programmes further increases
their popularity.
14. Evidence based approach
Raise taxes on tobacco
Why it is important
Encourages tobacco users to
quit
Prevents children and non-
smoker adults from starting to
smoke
Allocating tax revenues for
tobacco control and other
important health and social
programmes further increases
their popularity.
16. Regional Summary
WHO FCTC should be implemented comprehensively
3 countries have fully implemented 4 of the 6 measures
Ireland - P, O, W (mass media) and R
Turkey - P, O, W (mass media) and R
United Kingdom - P, O, W (mass media) and R
1 country has fully implemented 3 of the 6 measures
France - P, O and R
6 countries have fully implemented 2 of the 6 measures
Belgium, Israel, Romania, Spain - O and R
Greece, Hungary, Malta - P and R
17. Global Developments
• Over the past two years, an additional 1.1 billion people have become protected by at least one MPOWER measure
implemented at the highest level.
18. Regional Developments
Recent Developments in 2011
President of TURKMENISTAN signs accession to WHO
FCTC
HUNGARY - smoke free public places and work places
UKRAINE to have pictorial health warnings on tobacco
products
Senate of KAZAKHSTAN votes yes to pictorial health
warnings
President of RUSSIAN FEDERATION signs Tobacco
Control Concept
ENGLAND bans tobacco displays in shops
19. Conclusion
We have the solution to the global tobacco epidemic: The WHO FCTC. Let’s use it.
WHO FCTC is a powerful tool
WHO FCTC is a strong stimulus for legislation at the national and EU level
Legislation works
The success of the WHO FCTC and legislation depends on everyone - Empower!
A wealth of evidence of best practices
Best Practices collected by Hungarian Focal Point for Tobacco Control - school-based settings
Best Practices collected by WHO Regional Office, and also jointly with German Cancer
Research Centre
WHO/Europe Legislation Database
