Eighth Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP8) to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC)

Madam President,
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
Dr. da Costa e Silva,
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,

It is a pleasure and a privilege for me to represent the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva, Mr. Michael Møller, who was detained at the last moment this morning and regrets that he could not join you.

He asked me to convey his thanks to Dr. da Costa e Silva and the Secretariat of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control for inviting him to join you at the Opening of the Eighth Session of the Conference of Parties. It would have given him a welcome opportunity to encourage you on your crucial work.

He asked me to deliver the following remarks on this behalf:

“Tobacco products are widespread – we all know someone who smokes. Smoking is clearly a major health problem, killing millions of people every year.

Worst of all, tobacco products are also harmful to people who do not smoke.

Every year, the global cost of smoking is around one trillion USD. Most of it is attributed to the health care costs or to the loss of productivity due to tobacco-related illness.

80% of the 1.1 billion smokers worldwide live in low- and middle-income countries.

This makes smoking a development problem because it hits the most vulnerable and strains already overstretched health systems - leading to a vicious circle of poverty and inequality.

And while much progress has been made in recent years on policies combating the threat of smoking and tobacco usage – we must not remain complacent. We just cannot.

Reaching the 2030 Agenda, and lessening the burden of non-communicable diseases, as well as ensuring the promotion of well-being for all, at all ages – requires early, widespread action at every level.

Youth in particular is a key demographic group we must address in this fight – be it through effective smoking prevention policies or relevant legislation.

Experience shows that partnerships with civil society, sports federations, the private sector, media and others are crucial for successful information campaigns about the risks of smoking.

Without such campaigns, prevention and legislation policies to forbid or reduce smoking will ultimately fail.

The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control is a perfect example of the kind of collaboration that we promote in our daily work to foster new partnerships, share lessons learned and find solutions to very real and current challenges.

This is very much in the spirit of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

We still have a long way to go to achieve a smoke-free world, however, I am encouraged by the work you do here.

Successful tobacco control is a joint effort, and much like your efforts made this Framework Convention one of the most rapidly and widely embraced treaties in UN history, the world is counting on you to take it one step further - and implement these life-saving policies.”
This was the message of the Director-General. I can only add my personal wishes for a successful and productive meeting.

Thank you very much.