Advancing FCTC Implementation: Challenges and Steps for Civil Society Engagement

1. Section B Challenges and Next Steps

2. Support/Monitor Implementation of FCTC • Support and monitor the implementation of the FCTC at the national level • Play a lead role in policy formulation and advocacy for further development of the FCTC • Hold governments accountable to their FCTC obligations • Ensure that countries go beyond the minimum FCTC requirements by adopting, implementing, and enforcing effective, evidence-based laws and policies • Build regional, sub-regional, and national capacity by supporting civil society in its efforts to achieve ratification, implementation, and monitoring of the FCTC

3. NGOs Will Continue To: • Push countries to become parties to the FCTC • Assist governments in the process of implementation • Use and disseminate research to advocate for an effective, evidence-based, best-practice implementation of the FCTC • Independently monitor FCTC implementation

4. NGOs Will Continue To: • Monitor tobacco in the International Standard Organization and other regulatory bodies • Fully engage in future COPs, subsidiary bodies, guideline development, and protocol negotiations • Carefully monitor the status of tobacco in trade agreements • Monitor the tobacco industry

5. Major Work Between Conferences of the Parties • Protocol on illicit trade • Guidelines on Article 11 • Packaging and Labeling of Tobacco Products  • Guidelines on Article 13 • Tobacco Advertising Promotion and Sponsorship • Guidelines on Article 9 and 10 • Regulation of contents and disclosure

6. Major Work Between Conferences of the Parties • Alternative crops • Tobacco Free Initiative (TFI) development of policy recommendations on tobacco industry interference, which is expected to be used as the basis for development of guidelines on Article 5.3 • Develop detailed briefing papers in advance of key meetings of the FCTC, send representatives to participate at key WHO FCTC meetings, and lobby parties in advance of the COP • COP implementation review mechanisms

7. Summary • The engagement of civil society in a treaty process is a key aspect of democracy and good governance • Civil society played a critical role during the negotiations of the FCTC process by: • Working collaboratively with governments • Providing educational material and tobacco control expertise • Helping to shape the public climate that has provided momentum for the international regulation of the tobacco industry

8. Summary • Civil society contributed to the strength of the FCTC during its early stages; it encouraged governments to sign and ratify the treaty • Civil society continues to play a critical role in assisting the implementation of the FCTC at the national level • It will also monitor the implementation by governments of the obligations to which they have committed • “The participation of civil society is essential in achieving the objective of the Convention and its protocols” — FCTC Article 4.7 Source: World Health Organization. (2005).

9. Join the FCA and Help Us Reach . . . . . . “A day when smoking is no longer a sign of personal success and when tobacco no longer is a measure of national wealth or a legitimate commodity in international trade.” — Dr. Al Munzer (2007) www.fctc.org To join: membership@fctc.org