Open-ended Intergovernmental Working Group on the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control
Opening remarks
Ladies and gentlemen,
Welcome to this second Intergovernmental Working Group on the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
Thanks to your good work and that of many others. On the 29th of November, the 40th country became a Contracting Party to the Framework Convention. The Treaty will therefore come into force on the 27th of February. That makes it one of the most rapidly ratified UN treaties of all time.
Your discussions this week will prepare the ground for the Conference of Parties and the effective implementation of this Treaty.
WHO will continue its global work of capacity-building for tobacco control in countries and internationally. We will be keeping our Member States informed on activities, and providing them with support for carrying out the provisions of the Framework Convention.
For establishing the permanent secretariat for the Framework Convention, WHO is ready to respond to a request of the Conference of Parties. Our technical department, the Tobacco Free Initiative, has provided strong support for this effort, and its experience could be of significant value for the functioning of the future secretariat.
Tobacco consumption continues to be the leading cause of preventable death. Our work to overcome this health threat is still very much needed. Your enthusiasm and commitment to tobacco control have been one of the great driving forces of this effort. We must maintain the momentum that the entry into force of this new treaty will generate.
I wish you all every success in carrying out the tasks of this week.
Thank you.