-ACOSAP - COSTA RICAN PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION -

1. -ACOSAP -COSTA RICAN PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION - The continuous fight in Costa Rica toward the approval of the FCTC by the National Congress. Federico PAREDES, M.Sc. President of ACOSAPAugust 2006 San José Costa Rica, Central America

2. 11º World Congress on Public Health, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 21-25, 2006 • Steps to be followed in Costa Rica toward the approval of FCTC • Dept. of Treaties, Foreign Affairs Ministry prepares the Decree and send it to the President of the Republic. • The President send it to the National Congress to be approved. • National Congress approved it as a National Law and send it again to the President of the Republic. • The President signed it and send it to the United Nations. • The FCTC then starts to be applied in Costa Rica.

3. 11º World Congress on Public Health, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 21-25, 2006 • ACOSAP is the first NGO in Costa Rica looking for the ratification of this important international legal instrument. • To develop its work in this direction, ACOSAP has the Anti- Tobacco Commission (CAT). • CAT has developed many actions prosecuting this approval: round tables, letters to the congressmen, brochures, flyers campaigns, video conferences, and many others. • Within the Congress, the Commission on International Affairs is the one in charged on giving the first approval. Done. • The National Congress defines the list of projects or law propositions by priorities, to be approved. • NAFTA and some other national and relevant projects are ahead of FCTC.

4. 11º World Congress on Public Health, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 21-25, 2006 • Since July 28, 2004 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mr. Tovar Faja (Administration of Dr. Abel Pacheco) sent the file Nº 15.687 to the National Assembly (Congress) with all the considerations in favor of this initiative. • This document states that, although we have a Law against smoking (Nº7501), the FCTC would help the Country in terms of reinforcing the measures regarding publicity and prohibiting to smoke in more public places than those we already have established. • Past Congress (2002-2006) reviewed the file (15.687) in the Commission of International Affairs and approved it. Next point is be approved by the Plenary of the Congress.

5. 11º World Congress on Public Health, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 21-25, 2006 • ACOSAP, the Ministry of Health and the Foundation for the Non- Smokers Right (FUPRODENOF) believe that during this new Administration (2006-2010), the FCTC is going to be a law • The Congress defines a list of priorities of important/ relevant topics to be treated like the Free Trade Agreement with the US or a new Tax Package, so the FCTC has to wait! • One neo-liberal congressman in the past Administration was against of the FCTC expressing his position of “free election to decide” to buy and smoke, as a personal attitude, and blocked the discussion of this file. • Current congresspersons are willing to approve the FCTC as soon as possible.

6. 11º World Congress on Public Health, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 21-25, 2006 • Among the actions that ACOSAP lead with the Ministry of Health are: Promoting the free-of- smoke spaces; round tables and video conferences about this topic; promotion in Costa Rica of a “culture of non- smoking”; training and teaching. • Quit and Win . ACOSAP introduced this contest many years ago which is now conducted by IAFA (Institute of Alcoholism and Drug- dependence). • Once the FCTC be approved, the compromise is going to be big in terms of all the actions Costa Rica will like to develop in favor of human health for the current and future generations. • The time is now, the place is this.

7. 11º World Congress on Public Health, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 21-25, 2006 Thank you very much! Muito obrigado! ¡Muchas gracias! Merci beaucoup!