Religions worldwide call on people to look after their health, and by implementing strict legislations, this can be achieved, thus saving lives and reducing health inequalities.

Religion and tobacco use

Implement strong legislation to ban tobacco

Each year, more than 7 million people die from tobacco use. This figure includes the 900 000 that die from exposure to second-hand smoke. To save lives, strong legislation is needed at national level to strengthen implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC). We work closely with countries to align national legislation with the WHO FCTC and its guidelines. By implementing these guidelines, the rights of non-smokers, such as young boys and girls, infants and those involuntarily exposed to second-hand smoke, are protected. Women and children are especially vulnerable to being exploited to the dangers of smoking, as they are the target audience in glamorous yet deceitful adverts portrayed by the tobacco industry.

We seek to strengthen the implementation of the WHO FCTC, as well as to change public opinion and social norms regarding tobacco. This cannot be achieved without effective enforcement, regular monitoring and collaboration between countries to share and learn from each others’ experiences. By doing so, governments can curb the devastating health, social, environmental and economic consequences caused by tobacco use.

This page provides countries, advocates and interested parties with access to a model tobacco control law as well as to legislations from many of our countries in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region. If you are planning to develop new legislation or adapt existing legislation, please view the model law and the various country legislations for a quick and easy reference on how to move forward on effectively banning tobacco in your country, noting that legislations are only available in the official language of each country. Should you have queries or require technical support, please contact Dr Fatimah El Awa, Regional Adviser for WHO’s Tobacco Free Initiative, email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Adapt model tobacco control law (only available in Arabic)

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