Advocates for tobacco harm reduction raised concerns at what they call is the undue interference over tobacco control policies by some organizations. On the sidelines of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) Conference of the Parties in Panama last week, advocates criticized policy interventions made by an American foundation in countries such as Mexico, India, Kenya, and Pakistan, including efforts to block essential legislation in the Philippines.
Jeannie Cameron, chief executive officer of UK-based strategic advocacy group JCIC International, cited instances in the Philippines where some groups were caught trying to influence government policy during the enactment of the Vape Law.
The statement released by the advocacy groups did not provide details.
The groups cited an article published by The Lancet which said tobacco harm reduction should be a central strategy of the WHO FCTC in addition to measures for demand and supply reduction.
The WHO’s lack of endorsement of tobacco harm reduction limits healthier choices for 1.3 billion people globally who smoke and are at an increased risk of early death, the groups quoted the article as saying.
