Distinguished Parties to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control,
Parties to the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products,
Delegates from Permanent Missions,
Members of civil society,
Colleagues and friends.
It is my pleasure to welcome you to this webinar marking the official launch of the 2021 Global Progress Report on Implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
As has become our practice, the Convention Secretariat will submit the full version of the Global Progress Report to all Parties to the Convention at the upcoming Ninth Session of the Conference of the Parties to the WHO FCTC.
The Global Progress Report is based on an analysis of the information submitted by the Parties further to their obligations set out in Article 21 of the Convention, with this particular report being the product of information provided during the 2020 reporting cycle.
Of course, it is being published in 2021 due to the postponement of the Conference of the Parties originally scheduled for 2020, and some updated data provided by Parties in the early months of this year has been included in order to provide as current a report as possible to COP9.
I would like to acknowledge the instrumental role of the WHO FCTC focal points in the timely gathering of the most current information on the status of implementation of the Convention at the national level.
The focal points completed this important task even as they faced enormous demands on their time to urgently address the COVID-19 pandemic.
We are very grateful to all Parties – and to those individuals – who have made a special effort to report their data to us under such difficult circumstances.
This Global Progress Report provides a snapshot of progress made in the comprehensive implementation of evidence-based measures that were identified to achieve the maximum protection of the population from the harms of tobacco use.
Some examples of good practices that have been identified through Party reports will be presented during this webinar.
Progress in implementation since 2018 also has been captured in this Report.
However, we must be cognizant that work remains to be done, both in terms of adopting the measures set out in the treaty and in enforcing such regulations once adopted.
Naturally, reporting under the Convention has evolved since its inception.
Our goal is to continue to improve the reporting process and the reporting instrument to ensure the best possible quality of the data in future reports.
It is only through the objective lens of quality data that we can understand how best to support Parties in comprehensive implementation of the WHO FCTC, and in attaining our collective goals for sustainable, tobacco-free public health.
As the Global Progress Report has identified time after time, we continue to move forward on many fronts.
However, despite the success stories, there are still many challenges that Parties face in their implementation of effective tobacco control measures.
But, there is no question that we are stronger together, and next week's COP9 will help us continue our efforts, using the evidence from sources like the Global Progress Report to push forward in our science-based efforts towards a tobacco-free future for all.
Thank you all for joining us today. I look forward to what promises to be a stimulating and informative discussion.