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WORLD NO TOBACCO DAY CALLS FOR PROTECTION FROM TOBACCO SMOKE Advocates Urge Governments to Resist Industry Interference in Global Tobacco Treaty For Immediate Release: Contact: Boston, MA—Health advocates across the globe are marking World No Tobacco Day by raising awareness of the harmful effects of tobacco and tobacco smoke, and urging governments to ratify and implement the global tobacco treaty. Formally known as the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, the treaty aims to reverse the global tobacco epidemic with provisions that include a ban on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship. The treaty also protects public health policies from tobacco industry interference. According to the WHO, the treaty is projected to save 200 million lives by 2050, and has been ratified by 147 countries. “As we mark World No Tobacco Day this year, more than 80% of the world’s people live in countries that have ratified the global tobacco treaty,” said Corporate Accountability International Director of International Policy, Kathryn Mulvey. “Despite tremendous progress, the challenge to Big Tobacco remains urgent as corporations like Philip Morris/Altria and British American Tobacco devise new approaches to addict young people to their deadly products.” The WHO’s theme for this year’s World No Tobacco Day is, “100% Smoke-Free Environments.” In India, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Colombia, and other countries around the world, members of the Network for Accountability of Tobacco Transnationals (NATT) are organizing events to mark World No Tobacco Day and to build momentum toward the global tobacco treaty’s Second Conference of the Parties to be held next month in Bangkok, Thailand. Governments will decide critical details for the enforcement of the world’s first corporate accountability treaty at the Second Conference of the Parties. “We are confident that the Conference of the Parties will adopt guidelines for implementing the treaty’s obligations on protection from exposure to tobacco smoke, without interference from the tobacco industry or countries that have not ratified the treaty,” adds Yul Francisco Dorado, Corporate Accountability International’s Latin America Coordinator. There are a few large, influential countries that have not yet ratified the treaty, notably: Indonesia, Russia and United States. As of this month, the Bush Administration has been stalling on the global tobacco treaty for three years. Today, while corporate accountability groups around the world are celebrating World No Tobacco Day and commending governments for moving forward with implementation of this groundbreaking treaty, Corporate Accountability International’s members across the U.S. are calling on the Bush Administration to release the treaty to the Senate for a vote. Dorado is participating in an event urging Colombia to ratify the treaty. “As the world moves ahead with effective tobacco control measures, protection from exposure to secondhand smoke is an important ingredient,” said Dorado. “Countries that have not yet ratified must join the global consensus, and help reverse this preventable epidemic.” # # # 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. For more information visit www.stopcorporateabuse.org.
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