PHA-Exchange> World's first treaty on a public health issue

[FCA Secretariat]

Dear Colleagues

I am writing to you to investigate the possibility of the your organisation
becoming involved in the campaign by non-government organisations to promote
the global treaty on tobacco control, the Framework Convention on Tobacco
Control (FCTC). The FCTC will be the world's first treaty on a public health
issue and will set an important precedent in controlling rogue
multinationals which are promoting harmful (and in this case deadly)
products unrestricted in developing countries.

Tobacco use is often thought of as a 'first world' issue when in reality
smoking is a large and growing problem in developing countries and has
multiple effects which compound poverty and increase the gap between the
rich and poor. Smoking is almost universally more common among men of low
socio-economic status and since poorer groups smoke more, it can be expected
that they will suffer from tobacco-related illnesses more often as well. A
World Bank commissioned study has found that, where mortality can
be reliably measured, in high income and former socialist countries of
Europe, it appears that much of the excess mortality of poor and
less-educated men can be attributed to smoking.

Currently approximately 80% of the world's smokers live in developing
countries where smoking rates have risen dramatically in the past few
decades. Cigarette smoking is an important risk factor in the development of
cancer, lung disease, coronary heart disease, stroke and birth defects and
by 2020 is expected to kill more people than any single disease. As smoking
declines in the West, per capita cigarette consumption rates are growing in
the developing world. Unless steps are taken to reduce smoking rates, it is
anticipated that in the year 2025 the worldwide death toll due to smoking
will climb t! o 10 million per year, with 7 million of those deaths
occurring in the developing world.

I have attached below some information on the FCTC and tobacco control and
poverty which I hope you will find interesting. Please let me know if I can
be of any help at all.

Looking forward to hearing from you in the near future.

Sincerely,
Belinda Hughes
Coordinator
Framework Convention Alliance
Web: www.fctc.org
Email: FCTCalliance at inet.co.th

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Tobacco Control and the FCTC in Developing Countries: Millions Dying but
Where is the Outrage?
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According to the World Health Organisation, tobacco use is set to cause an
epidemic of heart disease and cancer in developing countries. Currently, 4
million people die each year from tobacco use, but that number is set to
rise to 10 million a year by 2030. In addition to premature death, smokers
suffer from an ongoing health problems due to smoking and inflict health
problems on others due to secondhand smoke. Yet few countries are taking
concrete actions to stem this epidemic. This is in part because of the
political and economic power of multinational tobacco companies which have
tried to define tobacco control as solely an issue for rich countries in
order to protect their enormous profits from the developing world.

Tobacco Transnationals Target Developing Countries

The aggressive marketing tactics of the multinational tobacco companies have
greatly contributed to the tremendous increases in smoking in developing
countries, particularly amongst women. These companies use their enormous
political and financial power to influence governments and promote their
products in every corner of the globe. The expansion of these companies into
the developing world has meant that in the near future it is developing
countries which will carry the majority of the burden of disease due to
tobacco use.

The Rich get Richer and the Poor get Poorer

Currently, approximately 80% of the world’s smokers live in developing
countries where smoking rates have risen dramatically in the past few
decades. Yet it is the poor who can least afford to waste money on the
purchase of tobacco products. Much of the tobacco industry is dominated by
multinationals, so profits flow from poor to rich countries. Since most poor
countries are net importers of tobacco, precious foreign exchange is being
wasted. In addition poor countries are less able to afford the medical and
other costs attributable to tobacco use.

A Pariah Industry

The tobacco industry has become a pariah industry. For decades it has denied
the truth about the harmful effects of tobacco addiction in order to protect
its profits. However whilst it has come under attack in the courts and the
parliaments of some countries, the majority of countries have felt powerless
to restrain the industry with effective legislation and litigation. In fact,
many continue to offer the industry tax breaks and other incentives.

Jobs--But at What Price?

Whilst some jobs are created by the tobacco industry those which are offered
to people in developing countries are usually dangerous and badly paid.
Tobacco farm workers are often exposed to dangerous pesticides and other
chemicals and small farmers are often chained to a cycle of debt by a
tobacco industry system whereby loan schemes are run to help farmers start
farming tobacco, but then low prices are offered for the tobacco. In a
number of countries the tobacco industry exploits the poor and powerless,
employing children and paying starvation wages.

Framework Convention for Tobacco Control

What is the FCTC?

The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) is a global treaty
currently being negotiated by governments which will address trans-national
and trans-border issues, such as global advertising, smuggling and trade.
Yet the FCTC will also serve as an important catalyst in strengthening
national tobacco legislation and control programmes. The process of
negotiating and implementing the FCTC will also help to mobilise technical
and financial support for tobacco control and raise awareness among many
government ministries about tobacco issues.

What could the FCTC achieve?

If properly negotiated, the FCTC could help turn the tide against the
tobacco industry by weakening its political power and helping to end its
reckless behaviour through regulation and legislation. But this will only
occur if the voices of the people are heard.

What will happen next?

The next FCTC negotiation is scheduled for November 2001 in Geneva,
Switzerland. At this meeting, WHO member states will debate the draft
treaty. It is paramount that NGOs from around the world lobby their
governments and mobilise public support for a strong FCTC.

How can NGOs get involved?

To ensure the success of the WHO FCTC in combating the global tobacco
epidemic, non-governmental organizations must play a key role in the
development and negotiation of the treaty.

o	Join the Framework Convention Alliance;
o	Educate yourself and your constituencies about global tobacco issues and
the FCTC – the Alliance Website (www.fctc.org) has links to many good
resources;
o	Inform and get the support of the media in your country;
o	Get resolutions passed in support of the FCTC;
o	Find out what your country’s delegates to the FCTC have said so far and
meet with them in order to influence their future positions.

What is the Framework Convention Alliance?

The Framework Convention Alliance (FCA), a coalition of over 150
organizations and networks from over 50 countries, serves as an umbrella for
networks and individual organizations working on the FCTC. The Alliance
facilitates communication between NGOs already engaged in the FCTC process
and reaches out to NGOs not yet engaged in the process (especially those in
developing countries) who could both benefit from and contribute to the
creation of a strong FCTC.

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