Dear Chairperson, Regional Director, esteemed colleagues, a very good afternoon to you all.
On behalf of the Convention Secretariat, I would like to thank the 72nd Regional Committee for including this important agenda item in your deliberations.
I want to begin by applauding the commitment shown by Member States as well as the leadership of the Regional Director in helping accelerate implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control through the Global Strategy.
I would also like to congratulate the 25 Member States who are on track to achieving the target of a 30% relative reduction in the prevalence of tobacco use by 2025 among people aged 15 years and older. Progress towards that target reflects a steadily improving picture in the Region as a whole, as noted in the report.
The Convention Secretariat stands ready to help maintain that momentum, working closely with the WHO Regional Office for Africa and the various partners engaged. Indeed, we are already doing so through the FCTC 2030 project, in partnership with WHO and UNDP, where we have been providing targeted support to 10 countries in the Region to help strengthen their tobacco control policies and regulations.
Last year, COP9 adopted a Declaration calling on Parties to include in their post-COVID-19 recovery plans actions relating to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Target 3.a on implementation of the WHO FCTC and SDG Target 3.4 on prevention and treatment of noncommunicable diseases. COP9 also called on the Parties to take appropriate measures to prevent tobacco industry interference in public health policies.
We call on new partners such as development banks and regional economic integration groups, IGOs and NGOs to join our collective efforts to fight the tobacco epidemic. We also call on State Parties who are not Parties to the WHO FCTC and the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products to ratify the treaties as soon as possible.
Thank you.