FCTC 2030 project countries are meeting this week (4-6 September 2023) in Montenegro to share experiences and challenges, and to plan future action on tobacco control.
Formally opening the meeting, Mr Dragoslav Šćekić, the Honorable Minister of Health of Montenegro said:
“We are proud that Montenegro, as the host of this year's meeting of the FCTC 2030 project, is at the center of global tobacco control this week. I believe that we will also use this meeting to establish the best practices in this area, all with the aim of protecting the health of the population.
Applying the principles of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, Montenegro has developed national priorities to be implemented to advance public health. As part of our activities and obligations, we want to promote international cooperation between our countries, so that we can progress faster together”.
The FCTC 2030 project is the Convention Secretariat’s development assistance initiative that helps to strengthen tobacco control in some ODA-eligible Parties through promoting and supporting governments to accelerate the implementation of the WHO FCTC.
The project is delivered by the WHO FCTC Secretariat in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
One of the core elements of the FCTC 2030 project is the provision of direct support to a selected number of ODA-eligible Parties that have demonstrated considerable motivation to advance tobacco control as guided by the Global Strategy to Accelerate Tobacco Control: Advancing sustainable development through the implementation of the WHO FCTC 2019-2025.
At the meeting, Dr Adriana Blanco Marquizo, the Head of the WHO FCTC recognized the progress made by FCTC 2030 project countries:
“The intensive support we have offered to FCTC 2030 project countries is in addition to the usual offer of support provided by the Convention Secretariat, where we provide technical assistance, facilitate contacts with other implementation that can help, and offer political engagement.
In all of the FCTC 2030 project countries, we have witnessed a diverse range of tobacco control activities undertaken. At the heart of the FCTC 2030 project is policy change, and we encourage countries to move ahead with achieving their priority tobacco control objectives, particularly in the area of legislation. During this meeting, we have the opportunity for everyone to share their country experiences and achievements made through the support of FCTC 2030”.
Dr Mina Brajovic, the Head of the WHO Country Office for Montenegro, expressed concern at the meeting about how tobacco negatively impacts public health:
“Tobacco is such a serious and multidimensional problem. We need to remember tobacco death and diseases are entirely preventable. While we cannot diminish how devastating tobacco can be for users and their families, it is also important to consider the wider economic impacts.
One of the biggest challenges is to stop children from taking up tobacco use in the first place to prevent a life-long addiction in adulthood. In Montenegro, almost 10% of young people aged 13-15 years of age smoke tobacco”.
Part of the support provided to countries participating in the project is the development of an investment case for tobacco control. These investment cases analyze the health and economic costs of tobacco use as well as the potential economic benefits that can come from implementing key WHO FCTC measures.
The FCTC 2030 is generously funded by the United Kingdom, Norway and Australia.
Note to the editor
WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control
The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) is the first international treaty negotiated under the auspices of WHO. It was adopted by the World Health Assembly on 21 May 2003 and entered into force on 27 February 2005. It has since become one of the most rapidly and widely embraced treaties in United Nations history.The WHO FCTC was developed in response to the globalization of the tobacco epidemic and is an evidence-based treaty that reaffirms the right of all people to the highest standard of health. The Convention represents a milestone for the promotion of public health and provides new legal dimensions for international health cooperation.
World Health Organization - WHO Regional Office for Europe
Montenegro Country OfficeThe WHO Country Office, Montenegro was established in April 2008 in Podgorica.The Office is the focal point for WHO activities in Montenegro. The country team consists of two people. The role of a WHO/Europe country office is to respond to requests from the host country to support policy-making for sustainable health development, taking a holistic health-system approach. This includes providing guidance, building up local relationships to implement technical cooperation, making standards and agreements, and ensuring that public health measures are coordinated and in place during crises. The priorities for the Country Office are set out in the biennial collaborative agreement between WHO/Europe and the host country. The Office implements the agreement in close collaboration with national institutions and international partner agencies.