WHO calls upon governments to enact lifesaving policies to reduce tobacco use by:
(i) implementing graphic health warnings on all tobacco packages, accompanied by plain/standardised packaging;
(ii) eliminating tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship; and
(iii) comprehensively reducing exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke in indoor workplaces, public places, and public transport;
WHO also calls upon governments to restrict and regulate electronic nicotine delivery systems and electronic non-nicotine delivery systems, such as e-cigs or e-cigarettes or vaping etc. Tobacco use in any form is deadly and there is no safe level of tobacco or alcohol use.
USA has not even ratified the global tobacco treaty so far but 183 countries globally (including the European Union) have. All countries must ratify the first-ever WHO corporate accountability and public health treaty (WHO FCTC). We also must address key social and commercial determinants of NCDs and mental health.
Shobha Shukla CNS (Citizen News Service)
(Shobha Shukla is a feminist, health and development justice advocate, and an award-winning founding Managing Editor and Executive Director of CNS. She was also the Lead Discussant for SDG-3 at United Nations inter-governmental High Level Political Forum (HLPF 2025). She is a former senior Physics faculty of prestigious Loreto Convent College; current President of Asia Pacific Regional Media Alliance for Health and Development (APCAT Media); Chairperson of Global AMR Media Alliance (GAMA received AMR One Health Emerging Leaders and Outstanding Talents Award 2024); and coordinator of SHE & Rights (Sexual Health with Equity & Rights). Follow her on Twitter/X @shobha1shukla or read her writings here www.bit.ly/ShobhaShukla)
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