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

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Published on 5 July 2022

Press Contacts

Santé publique France - presse@santepubliquefrance.fr
Stéphanie Champion: 01 41 79 67 48 – Marie Delibéros: 01 41 79 69 61

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 (WHO FCTC) signed a memorandum of understanding today to collaborate in key areas of work. This agreement formalizes France’s commitment through the creation of the first WHO FCTC Knowledge Hub on education, communication, training, and public awareness—areas addressed in Article 12 of the WHO FCTC. This Knowledge Hub platform is the first to feature bilingual French-English content. Santé publique France, designated by the French Ministry of Health, will share its expertise with the 182 Parties to the FCTC to promote the exchange of knowledge and skills in the aforementioned areas.

Tobacco control, a global public health issue

The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and its protocols aim to protect present and future generations from the health, social, environmental, and economic consequences of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke. It provides a framework for the implementation of tobacco control measures by Parties at the national, regional, and international levels. The WHO FCTC currently has 182 Parties. Since 2014, the Secretariat of the WHO FCTC has coordinated the establishment of eight Knowledge Hubs in different regions of the world to support Parties in addressing various tobacco control issues.

Long involved in 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 9th Knowledge Hub entrusted to Santé publique France.

A 5-year project to strengthen tobacco control actions

In the fight against tobacco, Santé publique France’s efforts are carried out at three levels: surveillance of tobacco-related diseases and estimation of their burden; analysis of smokers’ behaviors and production of indicators essential to tobacco control strategies; and implementation and evaluation of prevention initiatives, such as the social marketing campaign “Mois Sans Tabac.” Based on this expertise, the Agency is committed to creating this first knowledge platform, which aims to promote the exchange of knowledge and skills among Parties to the WHO FCTC and to strengthen the implementation of effective tobacco control measures in these countries.

Scheduled for 2023, the Knowledge Hub will take stock of the various existing measures—namely, information, prevention, and social marketing initiatives—that have already been implemented and have proven effective. It will also provide methodological guidance for implementing and evaluating such information, prevention, behavioral change, and evaluation initiatives in Parties to the WHO FCTC: the Agency will gradually roll out training, seminars, and other methodological tools to support capacity-building for Parties that wish to do so.

Speaking at a signing ceremony held today in Paris, Dr. Adriana Blanco Marquizo, Head of the Secretariat of the WHO FCTC, said: “We are delighted to welcome Santé publique France to the family of WHO FCTC Knowledge Hubs. There is no doubt that France has a wealth of expertise to offer in this area. Ultimately, we want to collectively strengthen our support to Parties to the Convention so they can tap into the breadth of available communication tools to promote and strengthen public awareness of tobacco control issues.”

Santé publique France wishes to put all its scientific and operational expertise at the service of this knowledge sharing.

Professor Geneviève Chêne, Chief Executive of Santé publique France, said: “The signing of this partnership agreement with WHO further anchors the commitment of France and Santé publique France to the fight against tobacco at the international level. The proactive policy led by our country in the fight against tobacco—featuring strong measures such as increased tobacco prices and the implementation of plain packaging, combined with proven prevention strategies—has demonstrated its effectiveness through a historic decline in the number of smokers between 2014 and 2019 (1.9 million fewer smokers). By entrusting us with the creation of this platform, it is our expertise—from knowledge to action—that we wish to share with all the countries involved, through mutual exchange, to change behaviors and achieve a tobacco-free generation."

About Santé publique France

As France’s national public health institute, Santé publique France serves as a center of reference and expertise in public health. Based on the continuum between knowledge and intervention, our mission is to improve and protect the health of the population. Our work addresses major public health issues over the long term, encompassing both protection against threats (particularly infectious and environmental risks) and health improvement (health determinants, prevention, health promotion, and the reduction of the burden of chronic diseases and social and territorial inequalities). Santé publique France is a public institution under the supervision of the Ministry of Health and Prevention.

About the Secretariat of the WHO FCTC

Established in 2007, the Convention Secretariat serves as the Secretariat for both the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) 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; however, it has a distinct mandate, function, and governance from WHO. The Convention Secretariat implements and reports on workplans and budgets adopted by the governing bodies of the two treaties, namely, the Conference of the Parties to the WHO FCTC and the Meeting of the Parties to the Protocol. The functions of the Convention Secretariat are to support the governing and subsidiary bodies of the treaties, to provide assistance to Parties to the WHO FCTC and to Parties to the Protocol, and to promote the two treaties through cooperation with international organizations and bodies, non-governmental organizations, and external stakeholders.

Tobacco

thematic dossier

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