UN Agencies strategic approach to Articles 17 and 18 of the WHO FCTC. Geneva, 17 November 2017

Transcription

1 UN Agencies strategic approach to Articles 17 and 18 of the WHO FCTC Geneva, 17 November 2017

2 Articles of the Convention (1)

3 Articles of the Convention (1) Social disruption and poverty linked to tobacco farming Unfair contractual arrangements between farmers and tobacco industry Child labour Loss of sole income if TI moves to more profitable countries or eventual decrease in demand

4 Articles of the Convention (2)

5 Articles of the Convention (2) Environment Deforestation Contamination of water supplies due to pesticides Soil degradation Health Green tobacco sickness Exposure to pesticides Respiratory effects due to tobacco dust Injuries

6 COP 6 Policy options and recommendations Comprehensive and multisectoral policies - Keeping coherence Between government sectors Between funding mechanisms and initiatives - International cooperation - International organizations involvement

7 Meeting in Tanzania June Organized by WHOFCTC Convention Secretariat, FAO, UNDP and WHO Participants: 14 countries UNICEF ILO (remote) IDRC ACS Fiocruz Outcome of the meeting: Each country came out with action points Seven countries have made pilot project proposals to be executed in the coming months UN Agencies also proposed action points: - Increase awareness of art 17 and 18

8 FAO s engagement on FCTC Art DECISION FCTC/COP7(10) Economically sustainable alternatives to tobacco growing (in relation to Articles 17 and 18 of the WHO FCTC) 2. (c) to invite the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to include the promotion of economically sustainable alternatives to tobacco growing as part of its sustainable rural development agenda; 8

9 Collaborations. Framework Partners Results FAO s Rural livelihood work FCTC WHO (TFI) Update of Tobacco Study Art Consultative Process Collaboration on Alternative Livelihoods 9

10 Collaborations. Zimbabwe: Collaboration with the FCTC Secretariat Malawi: Collaboration with the UNCTAD Regional and national support by respective FAO offices

11 Between 2000 and 2011, a quarter of income growth in low- and middle-income countries was attributed to health improvements

12 Sources: Schroeder, SA We can do better improving the health of the American people. New Eng J Med, 357: ; adapted from McGinnis et al The case for more active policy attention to health promotion. Health Aff (Millwood), 21(2):

13 Front-loading the transition costs for farmers to move to other crops Non-farming livelihood activities Access to credit for farmers Market support for non-tobacco crops Education support for children of tobacco growers Environmental impact mitigation and re-forestation efforts

14 WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic, 2017 Global launch 19 th July 2017 Addressing WHO FCTC Art 17 and 18 from the perspective of Health

15 Health & Economic Impact Tobacco kills people prematurely up to half of all tobacco users will die of tobacco-related causes 7.2 million per year Tobacco use imposes a heavy economic burden on the world the cost of smoking alone is estimated to be US$ 1400 billion

16 Health impact Tobacco farming workers are often women and children. In fact, up to 7 in 10 tobacco farm workers are women. Tobacco growing and production can involve hazardous chemicals which endanger the health of workers (e.g. leading to green tobacco sickness and increased abortion rates).

17 Pesticides used in tobacco growing and their potential harms As a monocrop, tobacco plants are vulnerable to a variety of pests and diseases, prompting many farmers to apply large quantities of chemicals and pesticides, which harm human health and the environment. Commonly used pesticides and herbicides include: ALDICARB, CHLORPYRIFOS, 1,3-DICHLOROPROPEN, IMIDACLOPRID, METHYL BROMIDE, CHLOROPICRIN, CARBARYL. Tobacco workers often apply these highly toxic pesticides without appropriate protection. Products affect brain and respiratory system and are cancer-causing; highly toxic to bees and other beneficial insects and certain bird species; persistent in the environment in soil and water.

18 World No Tobacco Day 2017 theme: "Tobacco threatens us all" main messages around four topics:

19 New publication released on WNTD 2017: Tobacco Life Cycle From Cultivation to Consumer Waste

20 The Impact of Tobacco Growing and Curing Tobacco growing and curing cause deforestation, loss of biodiversity and land desertification. It is also extremely water and energy intensive More than 11 million metric tonnes of wood are required annually for tobacco curing. One tree is lost for every 300 cigarettes produced.

21 Pollution from consuming tobacco products Tobacco smoke pollutes indoor environments where third-hand smoke resulting from long-lasting residue after the cigarette has been extinguished, affecting infants and young children Nicotine and tobacco byproducts end up in many solid-waste landfills or dumps which can then leach into its surroundings

22 Manufacturing and Post consumer waste The waste generated in manufacture are some of the greatest sources of tobacco s environmental damage Up to 680 million kilograms of waste tobacco product litters the world each year. Cigarette butts account for 30-40% of all items collected in costal and urban clean-ups.

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