The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by United Nations Member States in 2015, is a collective plan of action to achieve the agreed 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) via 169 targets. SDG goal 3 aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. One of the means of achieving this goal is to strengthen implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) in all countries, as appropriate (Target 3.a). The WHO FCTC is one of three international conventions referred to in the SDGs. WHO and the Secretariat of the WHO FCTC are co-custodians of SDG Indicator 3.a.1 for measuring progress towards achievement of Target 3.a. Commitment to the SDGs is incorporated in the Global Strategy to Accelerate Tobacco Control 2019-2025 which includes strategic goals that have the potential to contribute to advancing the SDGs due to the interlinkages between Target 3.a and other SDG targets.
As part of regular follow-up and assessment of progress towards the SDGs, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development encourages country-led Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) to share experiences and lessons learned in pursuing the SDGs. Including Target 3.a in a VNR is an important element in raising awareness of implementation of the WHO FCTC. This can help the country to highlight its achievements, it can promote shared learning and strengthening of the connections between the WHO FCTC and sustainable development.
Some of the WHO FCTC Parties have already included Target 3.a in any of their previous VNRs. According to Sheryl Dennis-Wright, WHO FCTC focal point in Jamaica, “The SDG goals and targets are aligned with the goals and outcomes of Vision 2030 Jamaica - the National Development Plan and targets are aligned at the strategic level. Reporting on tobacco control in the VNR helps to highlight the prioritization of the need to accelerate WHO FCTC implementation, helps to raise awareness on the existing regulations and the currently proposed Bill, to emphasize the achievement relative to the indicator - reduction of the prevalence of tobacco use - and to underline the fact that tobacco control is indispensable to sustainable development and has a notable impact on NCDs”.
Candace Koshiba, WHO FCTC focal point in Palau, said “Recognizing tobacco control as a development issue, Palau had strongly advocated for inclusion of WHO FCTC implementation in the SDGs. Development of our VNR was a multi-sectoral and collaborative effort whereby input was provided by government agencies, as well as from nongovernmental organizations. Inclusion of Target 3.a was important in our report because, as a development issue, tobacco control is cross cutting and can positively contribute to progress towards not only Goal 3 (health and well-being), but others such as Goal 1 (ending poverty in all its forms) and Goal 2 (zero hunger), both reflected in Palau’s VNR.”
Given that VNRs are voluntary both in nature and in format, the inclusion of any given target is not guaranteed even if a VNR is submitted. The Convention Secretariat has recently developed a Guide for WHO FCTC Parties on including SDG Target 3.a in voluntary national reviews. This guide aims to help WHO FCTC Parties to include reference to, and reporting on, the implementation of SDG Target 3.a in their VNRs. The recommendations are for the Parties in general and, within the Parties, for a broad audience that includes WHO FCTC focal points, other tobacco control stakeholders and entities responsible for VNR preparation.
“The WHO FCTC must be approached from a human rights perspective, which implies its interconnectedness with other Sustainable Development Goals. Making the WHO FCTC visible in the SDGs' Voluntary Reports is a priority and everyone's job,” – a sentiment clearly stated by Dr Reina Roa, WHO FCTC focal point in Panama and current Bureau Member of the Conference of the Parties (the governing body of the WHO FCTC).
Emilia Nunes, WHO FCTC focal point in Portugal, said “Considering the devastating effects of tobacco on health, healthcare spending, social inequities, poverty and the environment, the full implementation of the WHO FCTC is an unavoidable task in building a healthier future for all, leaving no one behind. For this reason, the progress achieved in the implementation of the WHO FCTC was highlighted in Portugal’s VNR presented to the 5th High-Level Political Forum in 2017.”