On 21 May 2003, the World Health Assembly adopted the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). This groundbreaking treaty will
save millions of lives and change the way the tobacco industry operates globally.
Throughout the FCTC negotiations, Infact and the Network for Accountablility of Tobacco
Transnationals (NATT) organized six successful International Weeks of
Resistance to Tobacco Transnationals that involved thousands of people in events
in more than 40 countries. (See below for
stories from IWR 2004 in Ghana, India, and Nigeria!) These events helped
build global support for the creation of a strong global tobacco treaty and counter the
aggressive attempts by Philip Morris/Altria, British American Tobacco and Japan Tobacco
International to derail it. See IWR 2001
and IWR 2002 for stories from
previous years' events.
IWR 2004:
The week of 17 May 2004 marked the one-year anniversary of the FCTC's adoption. NGOs
around the world used this milestone to build global momentum behind the treaty's swift
implementation. In every region of the world, civil society is calling on governments to
ratify and implement the global tobacco treaty. IWR 2004 included press conferences,
marches, rallies and nationally televised screenings of the film Overcoming the Odds: A Story of the First
Global Health and Corporate Accountability Treaty.
 Nigeria:
Organizations in Nigeria held a press briefing and a rally
calling on the government to swiftly sign and ratify the FCTC. The press conference
included a screening of Overcoming the Odds: A Story of the First Global Health and
Corporate Accountability Treaty, and was attended by 24 journalists. At the same
time, over 100 youth dressed in “Ratify the FCTC Now! IWR2004” T-
shirts joined activists from tobacco control groups across the country for a rally and
parade. A petition was delivered to the Health Ministry urging the government to sign and
ratify the FCTC.Participating organizations included Environmental Rights Action;
Educare Trust, Ibadan; Journalist Action on
Tobacco and Health (JATH); People Against Drug Dependence and Ignorance
(PADDI),Lagos; Youth Against Tobacco (YAT), Akure.
 India:
Allies throughout India, including ASHA for Education,
participated in IWR2004 by calling on their government to fully implement the global
tobacco treaty. Actions included meeting with key
political decision-makers, organizing showings of Infact's films: Overcoming the Odds and Making A Killing, circulating petitions
and postcards and holding demonstrations.
 Ghana:
Organizations including Action for Integrated
Development and Ghana Health Services called on their government to swiftly
ratify the global tobacco treaty. The group held a workshop and press conference with NGOs
and key decision-makers to build support for the FCTC and expose tobacco industry attempts
to derail it.. One of the tools used was the new documentary, Overcoming
the Odds: A Story of the First Global Health and Corporate Accountability Treaty.
IWR2004 ACTIONS
SPANNED THE GLOBE! People participated in countries such as: Alberia, Bangladesh, Belgium,
Botswana, Brazil, Burundi, Chile, Colombia, El Salvador, Georgia, Ghana, Hungary, India, Indonesia,
Latvia, Lithuania, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauritius, Moldova, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Qatar,
Romania, Senegal, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad, Uganda, Uruguay,
Vietnam, and Zambia.
For more information on how you can get
involved contact Infact's FCTC Ratification Campaign Organizer ([email protected]) or the FCTC Ratification Campaign Working Group
Member in your region. |
