WHO Removes Public and Journalists From Anti-Tobacco Conference

Public health and vaping industry advocates have accused The World Health Organization (WHO) of hypocrisy after journalists and members of the public were removed from a Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) conference.

The organisation’s own guidelines state that “transparency of all communications is essential to ensure the credibility and trust of WHO information, advice and guidance.”

Delegates voted to ban the public and the media from observing the proceedings and plans to live-stream the event were scrapped.

Harm-reduction advocates from around the world including Sarah Jakes of the New Nicotine Alliance (NNA) took to Twitter to criticise the move.

But only the ‘civil society’ that agrees with our predetermined conclusions. Consumers who support harm reduction for example, are not welcome. #COP8FCFTC https://t.co/7yubawvadn

— Sarah J (@Twigolet) October 3, 2018

The International Network of Nicotine Consumer Organisations (INNCO) who represent 36 organisations including the NNA were blocked from attending the conference and protested the ban.

INNCO consumer advocates standing outside at the entrance to #COP8FCTC
NOTHING ABOUT US WITHOUT US! pic.twitter.com/NZflTGLE7g

— INNCOorg (@INNCOorg) October 2, 2018

Experts from around the world have descended on Geneva to discuss the future of tobacco control with a view to achieving ‘a healthier and sustainable world’.

The WHO’s own Tobacco Product Regulation Basic Handbook acknowledges that “nicotine is delivered through products that present a continuum of risk, and is most harmful when delivered through combusted products.”

However, Vera daCosta e Silva, head of the secretariat of WHO FCTC, was quoted as calling the principle of harm-reduction ‘unfounded’.