World No Tobacco Day 2013
The World Health Organization (WHO) selects "Ban tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship" as the theme of the next World No Tobacco Day, which will take place on 31 May 2013.
Fighting the illicit trade in tobacco products
The Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products, adopted by the Parties to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) in November 2012.
Pacific tobacco taxation project
The pacific tobacco taxation project (PTTP) of WHO intends to provide country-level support for raising prices and taxes of tobacco to significantly impact on tobacco consumption and reduce the risks and suffering from non communicable diseases.
The blue ribbon campaign
The Tobacco Free Initiative in the Western Pacific, though the blue ribbon campaign, proposes a mechanism for ministries of health in the Western Pacific Region to recognize and acknowledge the work of its partners in the implementation of Article 8 of the WHO FCTC and its guidelines.
Tobacco Free Initiative in the Western Pacific Region
The World Health Organization's Tobacco Free Initiative (TFI) was established in 1998 to focus and channel international attention, resources, and action to reduce the global burden of disease and death caused by tobacco use. TFI provides global policy leadership, encouraging mobilizations at all levels of society, promoting the WHO Framework Convention for Tobacco Control (FCTC).
There are an estimated 430 million smokers residing in the Western Pacific Region, or about one third of the world's smokers. Compared to the other five WHO Regions, the Western Pacific Region has the greatest number of smokers, among the highest rates of male smoking, and the fastest increase of tobacco use among women and young people. In the Western Pacific Region it is estimated that two people die every minute from tobacco-related disease, and half of all men, women, and children are regularly exposed to secondhand smoke at home and in public places. It was estimated that in 2004 there were 117 400 deaths in the region due to exposure to secondhand smoke.
Through ratification of the WHO FCTC, all countries in the Region have an obligation to implement the international regulatory framework to control tobacco use. The Regional Action Plan for the Tobacco Free Initiative in the Western Pacific Region (2010-2014) was developed by TFI in consultation with Member States to stimulate development and strengthening of national coordinating mechanisms and national action plans towards complete implementation of the WHO FCTC.
Contact
News releases
- WHO: ban tobacco advertising to protect young people
- WHO supports World Heritage Sites to go smoke-free
- Malaysia releases its first Global Adult Tobacco Survey
- WHO: stop tobacco industry interference
- WHO hits back at the tobacco industry
- WHO collaborating centre for tobacco control launches in Hong Kong