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| Sunday, 13 October 2002 |
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NGO calls for global treaty on tobacco control Press Release of Network for Accountability of Tobacco Transnationals (NATT) Public health, consumer, environmental and corporate accountability organizations around the world are calling on countries to strengthen key areas of a global treaty on tobacco control during the 4th International Week of Resistance to Tobacco Transnationals (IWR2002). The event is organized by the Network for Accountability of Tobacco Transnationals (NATT), made up of 75 NGOs in more than 50 countries. IWR2002 activities were held the week of 30 September - 4 October 2002 - just two weeks before the fifth round of negotiations on the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), the world's first public health treaty. Previous Weeks of Resistance events have been held in over 40 countries. "Having analyzed the text of the FCTC released in July, we are deeply concerned that the treaty draft falls far short of measures necessary to reverse the global tobacco epidemic, including in areas that are critical to holding tobacco transnationals accountable and curbing their ability to spread addiction, disease and death," says Mr. Gallage Punyawardana of Swarna Hansa Foundation. First, the Chair's text fails to prioritize public health over trade. Secondly, the language on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship falls far short of the total ban advocated by many countries, including the African and South East Asian regions. In the past year, more and more evidence has been uncovered exposing the tobacco industry's efforts to sabotage the FCTC. An article in a prominent journal revealed Philip Morris hired the notorious public relations firm Mongoven. Biscoe and Duchin to advise them on ways to derail the treaty. Meanwhile B. A. T. (the parent company of Ceylon Tobacco Company) is spending massive amounts of money in an attempt to convince consumers and policymakers in Africa and around the world it is a socially responsible corporation. On the positive side, this draft of the treaty makes provisions for monitoring of tobacco corporations, their affiliates and subsidiaries like Philip Morris' Kraft Foods. However, the text needs to strengthen the ability of governments to protect public health policy from tobacco industry interference. Over 4 million people die each year from tobacco-related illnesses, and the World Health Organization estimates that figure will rise to 10 million people each year by 2030, with 70% of those deaths in developing countries. |
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