The Tenth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP10) to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) and the Third session of the Meeting of the Parties (MOP3) to the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products have been postponed to 2024.
Allegedly, the last minute decision followed a communication from Panama, the host country, reporting a current unstable security situation. Originally scheduled for November 2023, the sessions are now expected to take place in Panama as early as possible in 2024, with specific dates yet to be confirmed.
What is so wrong with the FCTC Conference of Parties?
Sadly, COP has become infamous for excluding stakeholders from conversations related to things that concern them directly. Moreover, the closed and secretive nature of the event is fed by the fact that the organizers are not open to ideas which differ from theirs, a dangerous phenomenon which Social Psychologists call “Groupthink.” This creates the ideal playground for extremists to push their unchecked agendas, and in fact covert negotiations are known to take place during the event.
In line with this, seven member states of the European Union have recently sounded the alarm about their exclusion from the negotiations that the European Commission intended to finalize during COP-10. These dealings were of course based on a tobacco control agenda based on prohibition which these member states did not endorse.
Similarly, the Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA) has recently forwarded the ‘Western Pacific Declaration,’ endorsed by 117 leaders in the field at the Asia Harm Reduction Forum, to the new Regional Director of WHO Western Pacific’s Regional Office.
The declaration emphasized the need for more transparent, inclusive, and collaborative decision-making processes within the WHO and FCTC. CAPHRA and the signatories asked organizers for clear information dissemination, sharing meeting details promptly, and ensuring transparent communication of decision rationale. Nancy Loucas, Executive Coordinator of CAPHRA, emphasized the importance of openness in decisions related to tobacco harm reduction (THR).
Is the delay of COP10 good news for tobacco harm reduction?
In light of this, Vaping Post asked two THR experts whether in their opinion the delay of the event is a positive thing for public health, in that perhaps it allows THR advocates more time to prepare/exert their influence on how the conference is organized?
CAPHRA‘s Nancy Loucas, said that she believes it is the case. “Whilst it is disappointing that the CoP has been postponed, I choose to believe it is positive for the consumer advocacy movement. As you had mentioned, it gives us more time to get the messaging across and also, interestingly enough, it gives the UNCHR time to address not only the consumer advocacy letter hand delivered to the Director last month, but also to assess the Special Rappateur call for submissions that closed on the 15th of November.
Many THR advocates and organisations made submissions under that call, and no doubt it will provide background and information regarding the letter that was delivered in October. Keeping in mind, always, that the WHO operates under/as part of the UN and our main issues are, in fact, the right to health, and the complete disregard for Article 1D and Harm Reduction in the FCTC treaty.
There was concern that the FCTC would go virtual for the conference, but we have heard that they are planning on an in person meeting in March 2024 in Panama. I think it places us in a better position to get more support from the UN and to get our messages amplified before the actual event in 2024.”
A negative aspect to the delay
Public health expert Clive Bates agrees with Loucas, in that the delay allows THR advocates more time to prepare. He also told Vaping Post, that in his opinion getting the event back on track will be no easy feat.
“Generally, we should want international institutions to function efficiently and do the job they are meant to do. In this case, WHO and the Secretariat are doing neither. If they are going to do something as bad as they were planning for COP 10, then maybe it’s better that the meeting is in disarray. My guess is that it will be difficult to get it back on track that easily, given the problems of civil disorder and question marks over the contracts.
Many will have lost their travel and hotel expenses or have other commitments. If civil unrest really was the reason, they would need a prolonged period of stability to guarantee safety and then enough notice to allow people to participate. If contract mismanagement or corruption were to blame, then the international community should be reluctant to put in further funds.”
On the other hand, he added, the delay is unfortunate for those advocates who were planning to show up and do what they can despite not being invited. These are likely to loose all the money they have taken from their own pockets, to use on travel and accommodation arrangements.
“The problem for THR is that everyone who was planning to go to Panama to represent the consumer voice, albeit from outside the meeting, will lose money they have spent on travel and hotel bookings and have no redress. For the rest of us, there is more time to have our views and experiences heard and more time to digest and critique the COP documents. My hope is that everyone involved realises that they can’t just reschedule something like this at the drop of a hat and move to a virtual gathering, which should be accessible publicly (but probably wouldn’t be).”
https://www.vapingpost.com/2023/10/19/is-the-european-commission-playing-dirty-to-push-its-nicotine-pouches-ban-agenda/
