NGOS URGE AFRICAN HEALTH MINISTERS TO SUPPORT GLOBAL TOBACCO TREATY [10.12.2005] - Corporate Accountability International - Challenging Abuse, Protecting People - Think Outside the Bottle


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NGOS URGE AFRICAN HEALTH MINISTERS TO SUPPORT GLOBAL TOBACCO TREATY
Advocates Call on African Officials to Swiftly Ratify First Global Public Health Treaty

For Immediate Release:
October 12, 2005

Contacts:
Akinbode Oluwafemi/Environmental Rights Action, Mobile in Botswana: 267-72- 451296
Bryan Hirsch/Corporate Accountability International, Boston, USA: 01-617-784-4753 mobile

GABORONE, BOTSWANA--As African Ministers of Health gather at a meeting organized by the African Union, members of the Network for Accountability of Tobacco Transnationals (NATT) are urging health officials from countries throughout Africa to swiftly advance ratification of the global tobacco treaty. In recent weeks, corporate accountability and health advocates have organized events in countries across Africa to build support for ratification of the treaty, formally known as the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC). Events in Uganda, Zambia, Nigeria, Togo and beyond have made headlines.

"This treaty will save millions of lives and change the way giant tobacco corporations operate around the world," says Megan Rising of Corporate Accountability International. "It demonstrates that working together, the nations of the world and their NGO allies can protect people from irresponsible and dangerous actions of corporations like British American Tobacco (BAT) and Philip Morris/Altria."

Governments must ratify by November 8th for their delegates to have a vote at the treaty's first enforcement meeting early next year. The tobacco industry--which has been aggressively targeting Africa to expand markets for its deadly products--has been attempting to derail African countries' ratification by spreading misinformation about the treaty. For example, tobacco corporations have tried to convince some officials that they cannot ratify until after they have passed domestic legislation to implement the treaty.

"African countries played a lead role throughout the negotiating process on the global tobacco treaty," says Muyunda Ililonga of Zambia Consumers Association. "The eyes of the world are upon us, and people's lives are at stake. African governments must stand firm in the face of tobacco industry pressure and swiftly ratify and implement the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control."

"Giant tobacco corporations have sought to expand aggressively into countries of Africa, and throughout the Global South," says Akinbode Oluwafemi. "With the FCTC, African countries can reverse the tobacco epidemic. The African Union health ministers must take swift action at this time to ensure that all their countries ratify the global tobacco treaty promptly so that they will be represented at the first Conference of the Parties (COP)."

According to NATT members, in order for the next phase of the treaty to be successful, it is critical that African countries are strongly represented at the first COP in February 2006, where important decisions about the future of the treaty, including funding, will be made. In order to participate as Parties at the first COP, countries need to ratify the treaty by November 8, 2005.

The global tobacco treaty bans tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship and protects public health policy from tobacco industry interference. The treaty took effect on February 27, 2005. More than 85 countries have ratified the treaty including Botswana, Cape Verde, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Niger, Senegal, Seychelles and South Africa.

Since negotiations on the tobacco treaty began, global tobacco corporations have attempted to water down and delay it. NATT members have raised concerns about attempts by BAT and Philip Morris/Altria to interfere in the treaty ratification and implementation process around the world. NATT members are exposing and challenging tobacco industry interference in public health policy, and distributing the newly released Global Tobacco Treaty Action Guide: Protecting National Health Policies from International Tobacco Industry Interference, produced by Corporate Accountability International and NATT.

According to NATT members, it is critically important that tobacco growing countries ratify the global tobacco treaty. The treaty is moving ahead around the world with great momentum. Essential decisions about implementation and funding will be made at the Conference of the Parties. NATT members are encouraging tobacco growing countries in Africa and elsewhere to become Parties to the treaty as quickly as possible in order to have a seat at the table, play a part in shaping the future, and prepare for change that is coming.

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Corporate Accountability International, formerly Infact, is a membership organization that protects people by waging and winning campaigns challenging irresponsible and dangerous corporate actions around the world. For over 25 years, we've forced corporations--like Nestlé, General Electric and Philip Morris/Altria--to stop abusive actions. Corporate Accountability International, an NGO in Official Relations with the World Health Organization (WHO), played a key role in development of the global tobacco treaty--formally known as the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). The Network for Accountability of Tobacco Transnationals (NATT) includes more than 100 NGOs from over 50 countries working for a strong, enforceable global tobacco treaty. For more information visit www.stopcorporateabuse.org.