15 years ago, we made history. The most rapidly embraced treaty in the history of the United Nations, the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control entered into force.
I still remember when I was in Uruguay, my home country, visiting parliamentarians, advocating for the ratification of the Convention, in order to reach the needed forty ratifications for its entry into force. Deep inside me, I knew I was part of something bigger, something that would save lives. What I didn’t know at that time was that today I would be here, in this position commemorating this Anniversary.
Dr Tedros, there is no doubt that this legally binding treaty, the first negotiated under the auspices of WHO, was and is an important milestone in global public health and a major victory for all of us involved in tobacco control. WHO’s support was instrumental at the time of the negotiations but even more today. We are proud to be hosted by WHO and contribute to advance global public health agenda.
Excellencies, colleagues and friends.
Tobacco kills more than 8 million people every year, costs the world economy over a trillion dollars annually in medical expenses and lost productivity. The case is clear: implementing the WHO FCTC is a powerful means for Parties to improve the lives of their citizens and ensure a better future of their countries.
The WHO FCTC shall therefore be considered as a key legal instrument in the success of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: the strengthening of the implementation of the FCTC in all countries is a means of implementation for Goal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages and of supporting other goals including goal 1 ending poverty among others.
Also, in 2015 as you may recall, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda recognized tobacco taxation as an effective and important means to reduce tobacco consumption and health-care costs and at the same time it represents a revenue stream for financing for development in many countries.
Excellencies, dear UN Colleagues, we have a common enemy that spend tireless efforts to undermine our work. The tobacco industry makes vast profits from making people dependent to nicotine, selling it in different forms – and they do not want anything to change.
This is why we must stand united and remain coherent with our own values to confront tobacco industry interference. Let us join our efforts in making the UN system 100% smoke-free and leave the tobacco industry no space to interfere with our work and with the SDG agenda. Let us together reiterate our steadfast commitment to protect our current and future generations from the devastating health, social, environmental and economic consequences of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke.
As known to many of us, the youth are the favorite target of the tobacco industry, especially through the novel and emerging tobacco products that are flooding the markets.
We must act now.
That is why, youth will be the focus of the ninth session of the Conference of the Parties to the WHO FCTC to be held in The Hague, the Netherlands, in November this year. I personally hope that it will be the occasion to create a momentum and design a roadmap of actions to ensure a healthier and fairer future for our children.
Your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen.
Although we should be proud of all the achievements made so far. Yet it is not time to relax. 15 Member States of WHO are still yet to ratify the WHO FCTC. Less than one-third of the Parties to the WHO FCTC have ratified the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products. I call for more ratifications as this will make global tobacco control stronger!
It is time for me to conclude my remarks. But before I do so, I would like to pay homage to my predecessors – both present here in this room today - Dr Haik Nikogosian, Head of the Secretariat Emeritus and Dr Vera Luiza da Costa e Silva, previous Head of the Secretariat. It is an honour to be taking over a Secretariat that has grown so much and so well under the direction of such excellent predecessors.
The Secretariat now is serving two treaties, that means a big increase in its workload, so now, more than ever, increased resources are needed as fundamental for our work, and in order to be able to provide even better support to Parties.
On this note and to conclude, allow me to express my deepest appreciation and thanks:
First and foremost, to the Parties for their unwavering commitment to the WHO FCTC and the Protocol, for their support, cooperation and guidance.
To our Bureau Members and regional coordinators, since under their exceptional guidance, we had been able to boost our work at global, regional and national levels.
To our Observers and partners, intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations, the WHO FCTC Knowledge Hubs and Observatories, all of who have been working tirelessly towards a tobacco-free world.
To Dr Tedros and all former WHO Director-Generals, Regional Directors and all colleagues from WHO who have steadfastly championed the treaty and supported us in many ways.
Last but not least, I would like to thank my staff and I very much look forward to continuing our journey together.
Thank you and let’s continue to save lives!