|
|
| Search | Site Map |
 |
|
Global Tobacco Treaty Reaches Major Milestone: 100 Nations Ratified in Time to Vote at First Enforcement Meeting U.S. Misses Deadline, Remains on Sidelines of First Global Health Treaty For Immediate Release: Contacts: Boston, MA--As the global tobacco treaty reaches another important milestone, 100 countries--including Brazil, South Africa, India, Canada and Norway--have ratified. Today is the deadline for countries to ratify in order to vote at the first Conference of the Parties, scheduled for February 2006 in Geneva. Health and corporate accountability advocates are applauding the countries that have ratified, and urging those not yet ratified to do so swiftly. "The global tobacco treaty has been embraced by such a range of countries--covering over 70% of the world's population. The progress is a true testimony to the growing global commitment to protect people's lives over Big Tobacco's profits," says Corporate Accountability International Campaigns Director Patti Lynn. The U.S. is one of the notable exceptions to the list of countries that have not yet ratified. The treaty, formally known as the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), will save millions of lives and change the way tobacco corporations operate around the world. Throughout negotiations on the treaty, the U.S. faced sharp criticism for attempting to weaken treaty provisions in ways that would benefit tobacco corporations like Philip Morris/Altria. "Having failed to submit this treaty to the U.S. Senate for ratification, the Bush Administration has once again shown more interest in cowboy diplomacy than international cooperation," says Lynn. "Our government is passing on one of the most pressing public health and corporate accountability agreements of our time." The Bush Administration signed the global tobacco treaty with great fanfare nearly a year and a half ago, but has not yet submitted it to the Senate for ratification. Other treaties the U.S. has signed and not ratified include: the Convention on Rights of the Child, the Convention on Biological Diversity, and the Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. Despite the Bush Administration's lack of action, the WHO FCTC has proven to be one of the most quickly embraced treaties in the history of the United Nations. More than four billion people live in countries that have ratified. "The treaty bans some of the tobacco industry's most effective and insidious tactics for addicting new customers," explains Lynn. "As the treaty is implemented, tobacco corporations like Philip Morris/Altria will find it much harder to push their dangerous products on children or manipulate public health policies." Central to the treaty is a comprehensive ban on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship. It also obligates parties to protect their national public health policies from interference by the tobacco industry, and encourages international cooperation to hold tobacco corporations liable for harms they cause. Nearly five million people die every year from tobacco-related illnesses, an epidemic driven by transnational tobacco corporations like Philip Morris/Altria, British American Tobacco and Japan Tobacco International. If current trends continue, the death toll from tobacco will rise to 10 million people per year by 2030, with 70 percent of deaths occurring in countries of the Global South. # # # 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 played a key role in development of the global tobacco treaty--formally known as the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO 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.
|
|
