Good morning Dr. Salagay, the President of the Conference, Ministers, delegates, colleagues and friends,
Well, you did it! This has been one of the most intense COPs. We arrived here 6 days ago and Parties had a record number of documents to discuss and decisions to make. And your dedication and commitment lead us to reach the end of another Conference of the Parties with a set of decisions that will continue to accelerate the public health gains of the WHO FCTC.
The Secretariat has clear guidance to work on a number of new fronts, supporting Parties, for example, in the implementation of Article 5.3 and strengthening our ability to protect the Treaty against the commercial and other vested interests of the tobacco industry.
The Secretariat is grateful for the mandate to explore the creation of a knowledge hub that will coordinate a global response to this global epidemic. I once again want to express my thanks to the Parties that submitted a declaration of interest form. Your strong actions generated a very strong reaction from the industry – this is good! It is clear that Parties’ unwavering commitment to protect its population against the predatory practices of the tobacco industry grows ever stronger and we will not lower our guard.
Great progress was also made in mandating work to advance the knowledge base for tobacco product regulation, including non-cigarette tobacco products. These decisions are a welcomed guidance to address the growing trend of waterpipe and electronic nicotine delivery devices’ use.
I am personally very grateful that the Parties recognized the significance of integrating the defense of human rights as integral to tobacco control, including supporting the development of a gender-specific lens in our work. This was a breakthough! Human Rights and gender were also recognized as an important component of our work on exploring alternative sustainable livelihoods for farmers that grow tobacco. We can never forget that the best way we can protect these farmers is through full implementation of Article 17.
As we saw on the Impact Assessment report, as the implementation of the WHO FCTC gains force, prevalence drops and with it demand for tobacco. Thus, we have an obligation to protect vulnerable members of the tobacco production chain – the farmers. But we do that not through encouraging more growing, as the tobacco industry does, but through the development of solid, sustainable alternatives that will promote a better future for farmers.
I am also grateful for the support and encouragement for the Secretariat’s work provided by the Parties. I am looking forward to strengthening relationships with WHO colleagues, the WHA, and those partners working to reach the NCD goals and the SDGs, including those agencies involved in promoting a healthy environment, IGOS and the civil society.
We will continue to promote the entering into force of the Protocol to eliminate illicit trade in tobacco products to ensure we meet you again at MOP1 back to back with COP8.
In the next two years we have an incredible amount of work which we will undertake with professionalism, enthusiasm, and the dedication that you come to expect from us.
The Secretariat respects the Parties’ decision to maintain a zero growth budget, reduce staff and not increase Parties’ assessed contributions. But we are aware that these decisions add to our previous COP mandates. In that vein, the Secretariat welcomes the announcement by the United Kingdom of its 15 million pounds extra-budgetary contribution that will strengthen the Treaty implementation within the context of the SDGs. We are looking forward to starting this work that will be pivotal to help us build a healthier future. We call other Parties to follow UK's example and bolster support to the implementation of treaty through your international development assistance mechanisms.
I need to extend my deepest gratitude to a terrific team that worked non-stop to make this COP possible. The Secretariat staff, interpreters, the venue staff and so many others who have supported your work this week deserve our gratitude.
And above all, I’d like to extend my deepest thanks to the generosity and hospitality of the Government of India who hosted our work with such grace.
And before we go, I’d like to extend our gratitude to the outgoing Bureau and regional coordinators and to the leadership of Dr. Salagay with a small token of appreciation. I am sure that he will continue to collaborate with the Secretariat and support advancement of the Treaty.
I would also like to welcome the new elected Bureau members and regional coordinators which under the capable guidance of Mr Mishra from India, will take us through the intersessional period.
I wish you all safe travels and let’s catch our breath, roll up our sleeves and continue our work implementing the Convention. Thank you.