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Countries prepare for the Conference of the Parties
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.
Countries commit to achieving 30% reduction in tobacco use by 2025
In 2014, the World Health Assembly adopted the global target of a 30% relative reduction in the prevalence of tobacco use by 2025, as part of the monitoring framework for noncommunicable diseases. Countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region are taking steps to this effect, and are working with WHO to ensure adoption of the target at national level and to develop a road map to reach it.
A recent WHO publication on tobacco use trends in the world presents an alarming picture, especially for this Region. In 2012, compared with other regions, the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region had the second highest average smoking prevalence among men (almost 40%). Moreover, this is projected to increase by 4% by 2025, compared to a projected decrease in tobacco use in all other regions, except Africa.
This Region is facing an emergency in tobacco control that requires all governments to gear up their efforts to control tobacco use. Immediate action is needed through applying the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, the six MPOWER actions for tobacco control and the proven NCD interventions known as “best buys”.
Related links
WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control
16th World Conference on Tobacco or Health
The 16th World Conference on Tobacco or Health opened at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, United Arab Emirates on 17 March 2015. The keynote speaker at the inaugural session was WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Dr Ala Alwan. Dr Alwan discussed the tobacco epidemic within the context of noncommunicable diseases, the theme for this year’s conference.
The Conference is a call for collective action to fight tobacco, by working together and integrating tobacco control into two broad agendas to achieve our common health and development goals.
For five days, multisectoral stakeholders will discuss the many aspects of the tobacco epidemic, and will highlight the efforts being made to control it through the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, and theMPOWER policy package to support implementation of the Convention.
