28 September 2016 – In preparation for the7th session of the Conference of the Parties to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, countries of the Eastern Mediterranean convened to review and discuss documents of the Conference, which are published 60 days before the session is held. This preparatory meeting, facilitated by the Regional Office and the Convention Secretariat is critical because: (1) it provides countries with an opportunity to collectively discuss these documents in advance of the Conference; and (2) it offers a platform for these countries to share their experiences and points of view on issues to be discussed at the Conference, to reach a consensus as a region.
The Conference of the Parties is the world’s only intergovernmental body fully dedicated to tobacco control. It is where important decisions are taken to shape the tobacco control agenda, in order to reduce the premature deaths and diseases caused by this epidemic.
Preparatory meetings have been a common practice for countries of this region, as well as other WHO regions since the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control entered into force in 2005. Engaging in discussions beforehand to reach a regional consensus will assist in the successful completion of the final negotiations at the actual conference.
The 7th session of the Conference of the Parties takes place in New Delhi, India from 7 to 12 November 2016. Parties to the WHO Framework Convention from the six WHO Regions will participate, as well as other stakeholders, including non-Parties and nongovernmental organizations.
