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WORLD CONFERENCE ON TOBACCO IN WASHINGTON D.C. CALLS ATTENTION TO BUSH ADMINISTRATION FAILURE TO RATIFY GLOBAL TOBACCO TREATY For Immediate Release: Contacts: WASHINGTON, D.C.--Tomorrow public officials and health advocates from around the globe will convene in Washington, D.C. for the 13th triennial World Conference on Tobacco or Health. One year after becoming international law, the global tobacco treaty will take center stage at this year's conference. Formally known as the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, the treaty has proven to be one of the most quickly and widely embraced treaties in the history of the United Nations. Ironically, the host of this year's conference is among a dwindling minority of countries that have not yet ratified the global tobacco treaty. Public health and corporate accountability advocates are calling on the Bush Administration to ratify. "By stalling, the Bush Administration is siding with tobacco corporations like Philip Morris/Altria," explains Corporate Accountability International Executive Director Kathryn Mulvey. The Bush Administration signed the global tobacco treaty with great fanfare in May 2004, but has not given the U.S. Senate an opportunity to vote on ratification. "Once, the United States was a self-proclaimed leader on tobacco control. Now the U.S. is undeniably falling behind the rest of the world." 133 countries have ratified, protecting more than 75% of the world's population. The global tobacco epidemic is projected to claim 10 million lives per year by 2020. The treaty aims to reverse this trend with provisions including a comprehensive ban on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship. The ban is modeled after regulations in countries like Thailand, the host of next year's treaty enforcement meeting. Thailand's revised ad ban went into effect last September, closing loopholes identified and exploited by tobacco corporations like Philip Morris/Altria through "point-of-sale" advertising. Thai health officials reported 3,200 outlets of 7-Eleven convenience stores to be alone among the country's 500,000 retailers violating the revised ad ban. Officials have evidence that through last winter Philip Morris/Altria was paying 7-Eleven to put up displays in violation of the ban. Formal complaints have been submitted to Thai authorities for review. Members of the Network for Accountability of Tobacco Transnationals (NATT), which includes more than 100 NGOs in 50 countries, have documented numerous attempts by tobacco corporations to derail negotiations, ratifications, and now implementation of the global tobacco treaty. Developing countries are the main target for expansion by tobacco giants Philip Morris/Altria, BAT and Japan Tobacco International. "Public health and corporate accountability advocates around the world will continue to challenge Big Tobacco's attempts to sabotage this life-saving treaty," says Akinbode Oluwafemi of Environmental Rights Action, Nigeria, a NATT member. "BAT is aggressively attempting to derail the global tobacco treaty in Nigeria. Our government has ratified. Now is the time to move ahead with enforcement to save the lives of future generations of Nigerians." "This is a historic time for the corporate accountability movement. Now that this global treaty is international law, it is no longer business as usual for Big Tobacco," says Mulvey. "With millions of lives at stake, we urge the United States to ratify without delay." # # # 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 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 FCTC. For more information visit www.stopcorporateabuse.org.
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