[Intl-tobacco] NGOs Question Big Tobacco's Access to WHO (fwd)

[Robert Weissman]

Wednesday, May 17, 2000			

Contact: 	Judy Wilkenfeld, USA
		Juan Almendares, Honduras
		Mahamane Cisse, Mali
		(cell) 41 79 368-1258

--For immediate release-

NGOs QUESTION BIG TOBACCO'S ACCESS TO W.H.O.
TREATY NEGOTIATIONS AND DEMAND OFFICIAL RECOGNITION
TO PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH

We, as members of the Framework Convention Alliance, strongly object to
the involvement of tobacco companies with member nations, as evidenced by
industry briefing documents on the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control
(FCTC).  [SEE ATTACHED DOCUMENTS]

Recently in Africa, British American Tobacco (BAT) held its latest
briefing session with delegations to encourage "proactive support" for its
interests. BAT called on the delegations to "use British American Tobacco
as a source of information and data."  Given the industry's record of
outright lies and misinformation campaigns, it is unacceptable that BAT be
considered a legitimate information resource.

Based on this industry intrusion, we support the inclusion of
Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in the official FCTC negotiations
commencing in October 2000.  Without broad NGO participation, the most
vocal non-governmental voices at the table will be those of the tobacco
industry.

It is imperative that NGOs have official observer status in the
negotiation debates.  While we recognise that NGOs do not and cannot have
voting status, NGOs bring first-hand experience with the epidemic and with
tactical manoeuvres by the tobacco companies to sabotage public health
efforts.  From Austria to Zimbabwe, we bear witness to industry subversion
of national efforts to end their predatory practices.

We expect that the sovereign member states will strive to protect the
interests of civil society by including NGOs as members of their
delegations to the official FCTC negotiations.  We applaud Malawi for
choosing health over death by including Mr. John Kapito of the Consumers'
Association of Malawi on their official delegation, and encourage other
countries to follow suit.

There is ample precedent for inclusion of NGOs in treaty negotiations.  
In 1996, the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) issued a resolution
describing a broad role for NGOs in UN negotiations.  As the Secretary
General of the UN stated in 1998, "NGOs have played a very significant and
helpful role by establishing bridges between the United Nations and the
civil society at large."

Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, USA 
SOS Tabagisme, Mali 
German Coalition
Against Smoking 
INFACT, USA 
CONACTA, Honduras 
Consumers' Association of
Malawi 
American Cancer Society