Asia Harm Reduction Forum 2023:
The Asia Harm Reduction Forum - Empowering Consumers and Advocating for the Western Pacific Declaration – takes place this Thursday
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by Dave Cross
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“This year's forum will focus on The Western Pacific Declaration and the importance of consumer choice in tobacco harm reduction”, said Nancy Loucas, a public health policy expert and passionate advocate for tobacco harm reduction and executive coordinator of CAPHRA.
“There is an urgent need for complete transparency and inclusion of consumers in the process at every level,” said Ms Loucas.
Clarisse Virgino, the Philippine representative of CAPHRA, added: “Despite numerous attempts by consumer groups like the Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA) to engage with World Health Organisation (WHO) delegations, there has been a lack of response, this is why the Asia Harm Reduction Forum 2023 is so important”.
The WHO’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) has been extensively criticised for excluding certain parties, such as consumer advocacy groups and independent researchers, which prompted Ms Loucas to ask, “what are they afraid of?”
AHRF 2023 aims to bring attention to this issue and emphasise the need for consumers to be at the heart of the debate on harm reduction.
CAPHRA believes unsafe oral and combustible tobacco addiction is a significant public health concern, and consumers should have the right to choose the most effective methods for them to quit smoking. Governments should not impose bans but instead provide necessary regulations to ensure the safety and efficacy of harm reduction strategies.
The AHRF 2023 event will feature cutting-edge research and studies on tobacco harm reduction, offering attendees a unique platform to cultivate global connections in advancing this vital advocacy. By providing accessible information to the public, AHRF aims to empower individuals to lead healthier lives in a safer environment.
The organisers say: “We encourage journalists and media professionals to attend the event and help raise awareness about the importance of consumer choice and the Western Pacific Declaration in the fight against tobacco addiction.”
Dave Cross
Journalist at POTVDave is a freelance writer; with articles on music, motorbikes, football, pop-science, vaping and tobacco harm reduction in Sounds, Melody Maker, UBG, AWoL, Bike, When Saturday Comes, Vape News Magazine, and syndicated across the Johnston Press group. He was published in an anthology of “Greatest Football Writing”, but still believes this was a mistake. Dave contributes sketches to comedy shows and used to co-host a radio sketch show. He’s worked with numerous start-ups to develop content for their websites.
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