WHO FCTC Needs Oversight
The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates calls for immediate oversight of the World Health Organisation's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control by the United Nations Council on Human Rights
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by Dave Cross
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The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA) is calling on the immediate oversight by the United Nations Council on Human Rights (UNCHR) of the World Health Organisation's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), citing a continued failure to fulfil its mandate on Human Rights to recognise and implement tobacco harm reduction strategies that could save millions of lives.
Nancy Loucas, Executive Coordinator of CAPHRA, stated: “The current leadership of the WHO FCTC has lost the confidence of tobacco harm reduction experts worldwide. Their stubborn refusal to acknowledge the overwhelming scientific evidence supporting harm reduction is costing lives every day.”
Tobacco harm reduction strategies, including the use of e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and oral nicotine pouches, have shown remarkable success in helping adults who smoke quit or reduce their exposure to harmful chemicals. Countries that have embraced these approaches, such as Sweden and New Zealand, have seen significant declines in smoking rates.
Loucas continued: “Sweden’s and New Zealand's approach demonstrates how embracing tobacco harm reduction can accelerate progress towards smoke-free goals. Their smoking rates have plummeted to historic lows, proving that pragmatic policies focused on harm reduction work.”
Despite mounting evidence, the WHO FCTC continues to oppose harm reduction strategies, often championing the spread of misinformation about safer nicotine products. This stance has put the organisation at odds with many public health experts and governments that recognise the potential of harm reduction to save lives.
Loucas emphasised: “The WHO is condemning millions of adults who smoke to certain death by denying them the right to safer alternatives. With biased evidence and bad science, its latest report evokes moral panic.”
CAPHRA believes that a change in leadership at the WHO FCTC may be necessary to restore credibility to the organisation and pave the way for evidence-based policies that prioritise public health over ideology.
“As we approach COP11 next year, it's crucial that the WHO FCTC aligns itself with the latest scientific evidence on tobacco harm reduction," Loucas stated. “The immediate involvement of the UN to review and oversight of WHO FCTC operations would ensure that it truly serves its mission of reducing the global burden of tobacco-related disease and death.”
CAPHRA is calling on governments, public health organisations, and tobacco harm reduction advocates to support this call for change. By embracing harm reduction strategies, the global community can accelerate progress towards a smoke-free future and save countless lives in the process.
Loucas concluded: “It's time for the WHO and FCTC to follow their mandate and objectively integrate consumers and tobacco harm reduction into their policies. Only then can we tackle both the public health crisis of smoking and the escalating illicit tobacco trade.”
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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