Framework Convention Alliance

The Tobacco control forum has released a letter to the Government of Uganda about a breach to the national tobacco control law and the country’s international obligation under WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control at the ongoing International Labour Organization (ILO) session of the governing body. The government of Uganda as a state party to the ILO and a member of ILO's governing board, is currently attending the session of the Governing Body and at the session that started last week, the government of Uganda supposedly on behalf of the African region, vehemently opposed this proposal. FCTC with specific reference to Article 5.3 and part viii of the Uganda Tobacco Control Act that prohibits government partnerships with the Tobacco Industry, any corporate social responsibility from the tobacco Industry and therefore Uganda’s current position at the ILO amounts to conflict of interest which is a breach of our own law. Read the Tobacco control forum's letter to the Government of Uganda.

When governments met at the seventh session of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), they agreed on the urgent need for strategic planning to ensure accelerated action on tobacco control. A strong plan can help national governments, the Convention Secretariat, civil society organisations and other stakeholders make short, mid and long term strategic decisions to boost global FCTC progress. International expert in strategic treaty management, Thomas McInerney, discusses strategic planning and how the FCTC stands to benefit from this practice.

Annual Report summarizes our achievements over the past twelve months, detailing several points, including: a regional outlook of our activities, a highlight of our advocacy work for tobacco control policies at the national level, and a look at FCA priorities in 2017 and going forward, to ensure a wider global implementation of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. When the FCTC came into effect in 2005, we knew the hard work of turning legal obligations into reality was just beginning. Despite continued tobacco industry resistance, FCA member organisations have pressed hard at the national level. While progress is uneven, we have had heartening successes in countries where very little existed before the Convention,” FCA executive director Francis Thompson said.

When the International Labour Organisation (ILO) member states gather in Geneva, at the 332nd Session of the Governing Body, this March 2018, they have a unique opportunity to finally eliminate any undue influence of the tobacco industry over child labour-related policies. An ILO integrated strategy to address decent work deficits in the tobacco sector risks being undermined by indirect or direct tobacco industry funding , which exposes the ILO to undue influence . With the World Health Organization campaigning vigorously to raise awareness about deadly tobacco products, the ILO is the only UN agency that still accepts money from an industry whose products kill 7 million people each year. A vote to stop taking money from the tobacco industry and tobacco industry funded organisations will ensure that the ILO can effectively help protect tobacco growing communities from unacceptable forms of work.