Excellencies, distinguished delegates, colleagues, and friends,
Good morning/afternoon and evening.
It is my great honor to welcome you all to this side event at the 2025 High-Level Political Forum, “Celebrating 20 Years of the WHO FCTC – Tobacco Control for Sustainable Development.”
Twenty years ago, the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control came into force, representing not only the first treaty ever negotiated under the auspices of the World Health Organization, but also a groundbreaking commitment by the global community to protect health from one of the most devastating public health threats of our time.
Over these two decades, the WHO FCTC has evolved beyond its original scope. Today, it stands as a powerful catalyst for sustainable development. Embedded firmly in the 2030 Agenda, the WHO FCTC contributes directly to Sustainable Development Goal 3, ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages.
Target 3.a explicitly calls for strengthened implementation of the WHO FCTC, recognizing that reducing tobacco use is fundamental to lowering the burden of noncommunicable diseases, protecting vulnerable populations, and enabling social and economic progress.
But tobacco control is not only a health imperative—it is also a developmental one. The WHO FCTC’s comprehensive measures address a wide range of social, economic, and environmental determinants of health. By reducing healthcare costs, improving productivity, preventing environmental degradation, and combating inequality, tobacco control is truly an investment in a sustainable, equitable future.
Today, with 183 Parties representing 90% of the world’s population, the WHO FCTC stands as a testament to what multilateral cooperation can achieve. It has galvanized partnerships among governments, UN agencies, civil society, and communities, proving that collective action can drive transformative change.
As we commemorate 20 years of the WHO FCTC, this event offers us an invaluable opportunity to reflect on the progress we have made, to acknowledge the challenges that remain, and—most importantly—to reaffirm our shared commitment to ending the tobacco epidemic.
I would like to take this opportunity to warmly welcome and thank H.E. Mr Christopher Tufton, Minister of Health and Wellness of Jamaica; H.E. Mr Dzulkefly Ahmad, Minister of Health of Malaysia; H.E. Dr Robert Lucien Jean-Claude Kargougou, Minister of Health of Burkina Faso; and H.E. Mr Ramy Youssef, Deputy Minister of Finance for Tax Policy and Development of Egypt, for their participation and leadership. Their countries’ experiences provide invaluable lessons on advancing tobacco control and public health through legislation, fiscal policy, and regional collaboration.
Let us remember: every life protected from tobacco is a step toward healthier populations, stronger economies, and a more sustainable and equitable world for all.
Thank you, and I wish you all a productive and inspiring discussion.