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TURNING COMMITMENTS INTO CARE: ACCELERATING ARTICLE 14 IMPLEMENTATION

WHO FCTC COP11 SIDE EVENT

WHO FCTC COP11 Side Event

Turning Commitments into Care: Accelerating Article 14 Implementation

Elevating tobacco cessation as essential care under Article 14 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

📅 Date: 21 November 2025   |
🕒 Time: 13:30–14:45 CET   |
📍 Venue: Centre International de Conférences Genève   |
🏛️ Room: Plenary B

About the Event

Article 14 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control outlines the responsibilities and obligations of Parties to promote tobacco cessation and provide adequate support for tobacco dependence treatment. In spite of its critical role in reducing tobacco-related morbidity and mortality, Article 14 remains one of the least debated and implemented provisions of the Convention.

Globally, millions of tobacco users have expressed a desire to quit, yet a majority have limited or no access to effective and affordable cessation services. This persistent gap hinders the full realization of the WHO FCTC, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, where cessation services are often under-resourced or absent from national health and/or tobacco control strategies.

Our side event will aim to:

  1. Raise Awareness: Elevate visibility of Article 14 within COP deliberations and across national and global health agendas.
  2. Address Barriers: Identify technical, financial, and political barriers to implementation as well as highlight pathways to address challenges.
  3. Promote Solutions: Share country experiences, best practices, and innovative strategies for integrating tobacco cessation into health systems.

It also aligns with agenda item 4.5 on the implementation of measures to prevent and reduce tobacco consumption, nicotine addiction, and exposure to tobacco smoke, as well as the protection of such measures from commercial and other vested interests of the tobacco industry.

On-site Contact

Yunshu Wang

yunshu.wang@worldheart.org

Co-Hosts

Parties: Oriental Republic of Uruguay, Republic of Panama, Malaysia

Knowledge Hub: WHO FCTC Article 14 Knowledge Hub (International Cooperation Center for Tobacco Control – CCICT)

IGOs: World Health Organization

NGOs & Partners:
Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) US, Global Alliance for Tobacco Control (GATC),
InterAmerican Heart Foundation (IAHF), International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations (IFMSA),
Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), Vital Strategies, World Heart Federation (WHF)

Objectives

  • Elevate the visibility of Article 14 within COP11 deliberations and national and global health agendas.
  • Identify technical, financial, and political barriers to cessation and highlight feasible solutions.
  • Showcase country experiences and best practices for integrating cessation into health systems.
  • Reinforce safeguards against tobacco industry interference and misleading “harm reduction” narratives.
  • Support COP11 agenda item 4.5 by demonstrating how effective cessation reduces tobacco use and nicotine addiction.
  • Foster partnerships between governments, international organizations, NGOs, and healthcare professionals.

Programme (13:30–14:45 CET)

  1. Opening Comments
    Ms. Borjana Pervan, World Heart Federation
  2. Welcome Address
    Mr. Andrew Black, WHO FCTC Secretariat
    Dr. Vinayak Prasad, World Health Organization
  3. Keynote Address
    H.E. Dr. Cristina Lustemberg, Minister of Health, Uruguay
    Dr. Ricardo Torres, Ministry of Health of Panama
    Dr. Nurhaliza Zakariah, Ministry of Health of Malaysia
  4. The Case for Cessation
    Prof. Eduardo Bianco, Nicotine Addiction and Tobacco Use Treatment Initiative
  5. Panel Discussion
    Moderator: Ms. Borjana Pervan, World Heart Federation
    Panellists:
    Ms. Mercedes Carballo, GATC
    Ms. Kelsey Romeo-Stuppy, ASH US
    Dr. Gan Quan, Vital Strategies
    Dr. Stella Bialous, UICC
    Ms. Kana Halić Kordić, International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations
  6. Questions & Answers 
    Moderated by Ms. Borjana Pervan, World Heart Federation
  7. Closing Address – 2 min
    Ms. Borjana Pervan, World Heart Federation

Moderator

Ms. Borjana Pervan, World Heart Federation


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