Tobacco control: signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Secretariat of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and Santé publique France

cp_signature_convention_tabac_OMS.pdf

Published on 5 July 2022

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Santé publique France - presse@santepubliquefrance.fr
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Secretariat of the WHO Framework Convention
Ms. Mitchel Lara Web
Communications Officer
Contact: mediafctc@who.int

Santé publique France and the Secretariat of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (the WHO Framework Convention) signed a memorandum of understanding today establishing cooperation in several key areas of work. This agreement represents the fulfillment of France’s commitment through the creation of the first WHO Framework Convention Knowledge Center on education, communication, training, and public awareness—areas covered by Article 12 of the treaty. This Knowledge Center platform is the first to offer bilingual French-English content. Santé publique France, under the supervision of the French Ministry of Health, will provide its expertise to the 182 Parties to the WHO Framework Convention to promote the sharing of knowledge and skills in the aforementioned areas.

Tobacco control: a global public health issue

The objective of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and its protocols is to protect present and future generations from the health, social, environmental, and economic consequences of tobacco use and exposure to tobacco smoke. This treaty provides a framework for the implementation of tobacco control measures by Parties at the national, regional, and international levels. The WHO Framework Convention currently has 182 Parties. Since 2014, the Secretariat of the WHO Framework Convention has coordinated the creation of eight knowledge centers in different regions of the world designed to help Parties address various tobacco control challenges.

Long committed to the development, implementation, and promotion of tobacco control policies, France is now strengthening its efforts at the national and international levels through the creation of a ninth knowledge center entrusted to Santé Publique France.

A 5-year project aimed at strengthening tobacco control measures

In the field of tobacco control, Santé Publique France’s work is carried out on three levels: monitoring tobacco-related diseases and estimating their associated burden; analyzing smokers’ behaviors and producing key indicators for tobacco control strategies; and the implementation and evaluation of prevention initiatives, such as the “Month Without Tobacco” social marketing campaign. Drawing on this expertise, the Agency is committed to creating this first knowledge platform designed to promote the transfer of knowledge and skills among Parties to the WHO Framework Convention and to strengthen the implementation of effective tobacco control measures in these countries.

The Knowledge Center, scheduled to launch in 2023, will compile an inventory of existing measures—that is, information, prevention, and social marketing initiatives that have already been implemented and proven effective. It will also provide methodological resources for the implementation and evaluation of such information, prevention, behavior change, and evaluation campaigns within the States Parties to the WHO Framework Convention. The Agency will thus gradually develop training programs, seminars, and other methodological tools aimed at helping Parties that wish to do so strengthen their capabilities in these areas.

Speaking at the signing ceremony held today in Paris, Dr. Adriana Blanco Marquizo, Head of the Secretariat of the WHO Framework Convention, said: “We are delighted to welcome Santé publique France into the family of WHO Framework Convention knowledge centers. There is no doubt that France has extensive expertise to offer in this area. Finally, we want to collectively strengthen our support for the Parties to the Convention in order to leverage the full range of available communication tools to promote and raise public awareness of tobacco control issues.”

Santé publique France aims to contribute its full scientific and operational expertise to this knowledge-sharing effort.

“The signing of this partnership agreement with the WHO further anchors the commitment of France and Santé publique France to tobacco control at the international level. Our country’s proactive tobacco control policy—which includes strong measures such as raising tobacco prices and adopting plain packaging, combined with proven prevention strategies—has proven effective and resulted in a historic decline in the number of smokers between 2014 and 2019 (1.9 million fewer smokers). “Through the creation of this platform entrusted to us, we wish to share our expertise—from knowledge to action—with all participating countries, within the framework of mutual exchange, in order to change behaviors and achieve a tobacco-free generation,” stated Professor Geneviève Chêne, Director General of Santé publique France.

About Santé publique France

As the national public health agency, Santé publique France fulfills the need for a center of expertise and reference in public health in France. Grounded in the continuum between knowledge and action, our mission is to improve and protect the health of the population. Our work addresses major public health issues over the long term, in the areas of protection against hazards (particularly infectious and environmental risks), on the one hand, and health improvement (health determinants, prevention, health promotion, and reducing the burden of chronic diseases and social and regional inequalities), on the other. Santé publique France is a public institution under the supervision of the Ministry of Health and Prevention.

About the Secretariat of the WHO Framework Convention

Established in 2007, the Convention Secretariat serves as the secretariat for both the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (the WHO Framework Convention) and the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products (the Protocol). The Convention Secretariat is hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva, but its mission, functions, and governance are independent of those of WHO. The Convention Secretariat implements and reports on the work plans and budgets adopted by the governing bodies of both treaties, namely: the Conference of the Parties to the WHO Framework Convention and the Meeting of the Parties to the Protocol. The Convention Secretariat’s mission is to support the governing and subsidiary bodies of the treaties, provide assistance to the Parties to the WHO Framework Convention and the Parties to the Protocol, and promote both treaties through cooperation with international organizations and agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and external stakeholders.

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