Workshop discusses implementation of the Convention in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region
A regional workshop on implementation of the WHO FCTC, co-organized by the Convention Secretariat and the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, was held in Cairo, Egypt, on 12–15 December 2011. Representatives of 15 Parties to the Convention from the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region and three nongovernmental organizations that are observers to the Conference of the Parties (COP) participated in the workshop, along with representatives from the European Union, the United Nations Office in Egypt, the World Bank and the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf.
The participants exchanged experiences and views regarding recent progress in implementation of the Convention in the region and inter-country cooperation, and were provided with information on reporting requirements and instruments. Discussions also included treaty implementation instruments, such as the guidelines adopted by the COP at its fourth session and the draft protocol to eliminate illicit trade in tobacco products.
Representatives of development partners from the United Nations, the World Bank and the European Union shared their perspectives on relevant development assistance mechanisms, in particular the integration of implementation of the Convention into the United Nations Development Assistance Framework at country level, as envisaged in decision FCTC/COP4(17) adopted by the COP at its fourth session.
At the end of the workshop, Parties agreed on an outcome document to guide promotion of implementation of the Convention in the region.