Advocates Tour Africa -- Leading Region Throughout Treaty Negotiations -- to
Build Support for Ratification of World's First Public Health Treaty
KAMPALA, Uganda, Sept. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, an international
coalition of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) is launching a campaign to
call on African governments to ratify the global tobacco treaty, formally
known as the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). Corporate
Accountability International (USA) is working closely with The Environmental
Action Network (Uganda), Zambia Consumers Association, Environmental Rights
Action (Nigeria), Consumers Information Network (Kenya) and other African
members of the Network for Accountability of Tobacco Transnationals (NATT) to
coordinate an Africa Ratification Campaign Tour from September 29th through
mid-October.
At each stop on the tour, public health, consumer, environmental, and
corporate accountability advocates will urge government officials to swiftly
ratify and implement the world's first public health treaty. The tour takes
place just before a summit of African Health Ministers in Botswana. As the
international coalition visits Uganda and Zambia, advocates are organizing
solidarity actions across the African continent to build momentum behind
ratification and implementation of the global tobacco treaty.
"African countries played a lead role throughout the negotiating process
on the global tobacco treaty," says Muyunda Ililonga of Zambia Consumers
Association. "The eyes of the world are upon us, and people's lives are at
stake. African governments must stand firm in the face of tobacco industry
pressure and swiftly ratify and implement the Framework Convention on Tobacco
Control."
The global tobacco treaty bans tobacco advertising, promotion and
sponsorship and protects public health policy from tobacco industry
interference. The treaty took effect on February 27, 2005. More than 85
countries have ratified the treaty including Botswana, Equatorial Guinea,
Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mauritius, Niger, Senegal, Seychelles and
South Africa.
According to NATT members, in order for the next phase of the treaty to be
successful, it is critical that African countries are strongly represented at
the first Conference of the Parties (COP) in February 2006, where important
decisions about the future of the treaty will be made. In order to
participate as Parties at the first COP, countries need to ratify the treaty
by November 8, 2005.
"This treaty will save millions of lives and change the way giant tobacco
corporations operate around the world," says Megan Rising of Corporate
Accountability International. "It demonstrates that working together, the
nations of the world and their NGO allies can protect people from
irresponsible and dangerous actions of corporations like British American
Tobacco (BAT) and Philip Morris/Altria."
Since negotiations on the tobacco treaty began, global tobacco
corporations have attempted to water down and delay it. NATT members have
raised concerns about attempts by BAT and Philip Morris/Altria to interfere in
the treaty ratification and implementation process around the world. NATT
members are exposing and challenging tobacco industry interference in public
health policy, and distributing the newly released Global Tobacco Treaty
Action Guide: Protecting National Health Policies from International Tobacco
Industry Interference, produced by Corporate Accountability International and
NATT.
"Giant tobacco corporations have sought to expand aggressively into
countries of Africa, and throughout the Global South," says Phillip Karugaba
of The Environmental Action Network. "With the global tobacco treaty, it is
no longer business as usual for Big Tobacco. It is critical that Uganda and
other African countries ratify and implement the treaty as quickly as
possible."
According to NATT members, it is critically important that tobacco growing
countries ratify the global tobacco treaty. The treaty is moving ahead around
the world with great momentum. Essential decisions about implementation and
funding will be made at the Conference of the Parties. NATT members are
encouraging tobacco growing countries in Africa and elsewhere to become
Parties to the treaty as quickly as possible in order to have a seat at the
table, attempt to play a part in shaping the future, and prepare for change
that is coming.
Corporate Accountability International, formerly Infact, is a membership
organization that protects people by waging and winning campaigns challenging
irresponsible and dangerous corporate actions around the world. For over 25
years, we've forced corporations -- like Nestle, General Electric and Philip
Morris/Altria -- to stop abusive actions. Corporate Accountability
International is an NGO in Official Relations with the World Health
Organization (WHO). The Network for Accountability of Tobacco Transnationals
(NATT) includes more than 100 NGOs from over 50 countries working for a
strong, enforceable global tobacco treaty. For more information visit
http://www.stopcorporateabuse.org.
Contacts:
Bryan Hirsch/Corporate Accountability International
Boston, USA: 01-617-784-4753 mobile
Phillip Karugaba/The Environmental Action Network
Uganda: 256-77-785-332 mobile
Muyunda Ililonga/Zambia Consumers Association
Zambia: 260-978-00018 mobile
SOURCE Corporate Accountability International
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Related links:
http://www.stopcorporateabuse.org
CONTACT:
Bryan Hirsch of Corporate Accountability
International, +1-617- 784-4753; or Phillip Karugaba of The
Environmental Action Network, +256-77- 785-332; or Muyunda
Ililonga of Zambia Consumers Association, +260-978-00018
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