Conference of the Parties to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Sixth session Moscow, Russian Federation,13–18 October 2014
18 October 2014
DECISION FCTC/COP6(17) Sustainable measures to strengthen implementation of the WHO FCTC
The Conference of the Parties (COP), Recalling decisions FCTC/COP1(13), FCTC/COP2(10), FCTC/COP4(17) and FCTC/COP5(14) on financial resources, mechanisms of assistance and international cooperation; Recalling that decision FCTC/COP5(14) established a working group on sustainable measures to strengthen implementation of the WHO FCTC; Having considered the report of the working group (document FCTC/COP/6/19 and its Annex); Noting also the reports of the Convention Secretariat on global progress in, and international cooperation for, implementation of the WHO FCTC as submitted to the sixth session of the COP (documents FCTC/COP/6/5 and FCTC/COP/6/18); Welcoming the progress made, yet concerned that Parties continue to confront multiple challenges in implementing the WHO FCTC, including in accessing and adapting existing mechanisms of assistance to their specific needs and in obtaining resources for implementation at country level; Recalling FCTC Article 4.2(d) that calls for the need to take measures to address genderspecific risks when developing tobacco control strategies; and noting the need to develop sustainable implementation measures in relation to tobacco use and tobacco control in the lives of women and girls; Encouraging accelerated implementation of the WHO FCTC,
FCTC/COP6(17)
1. DECIDES to urge Parties to take action in line with the suggested actions and recommendations set out in the Annex to the report of the working group, including: (a) ensuring retention of trained personnel for tobacco control at country level;
(b) actively working with civil society in promoting and mobilizing multisectoral coordination for effective implementation of the WHO FCTC and including civil society actors, as appropriate, in the definition and formulation of national strategies, plans and projects; (c) encouraging increased engagement of United Nations country teams and leadership by United Nations resident coordinators and WHO country representatives in providing and promoting multisectoral assistance for implementation of the WHO FCTC and integration of the Convention into United Nations Development Assistance Frameworks and WHO country cooperation strategies; (d) contacting WHO country and/or regional offices and the Convention Secretariat in order to be connected with relevant experts or organizations on issues of technical assistance; (e) exploring possibilities for technical assistance at bilateral, regional and subregional levels, and cooperating with other Parties across relevant sectors; (f) increasing awareness and promotion of the WHO FCTC in relevant international forums, making use of factual information and data on the negative impacts of tobacco consumption; (g) giving due consideration to the inclusion of WHO FCTC implementation in the post-2015 agenda in all relevant international forums; (h) promoting joint campaigns championed by relevant stakeholders, including suitable personalities, groups and civil society organizations, to raise the profile of the WHO FCTC and tobacco control as a health and development priority; (i) using World No Tobacco Day events to raise awareness of the importance of tobacco control and the WHO FCTC; 2. FURTHER DECIDES to extend the mandate of the working group, requesting the working group to undertake the following tasks and to provide a report and recommendations for consideration by the COP at its seventh session: (a) complete the review of existing mechanisms of assistance and identify additional mechanisms of assistance with a view to ensuring that they meet the needs of the Parties. This review should include a strategic prioritization, while avoiding duplication with other work; (b) develop options for the establishment of functioning national multisectoral coordination mechanisms in line with Article 5.2(a) of the WHO FCTC; (c) develop options for a coordination platform to support accelerated implementation of the WHO FCTC by bringing together and strengthening collaboration between Parties,
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international, intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations and organizations that provide or could provide resources and technical assistance;
other
(d) provide guidance to the Secretariat to carry out the suggested actions and recommendations set out in the Annex to the report of the working group, in particular those contained in paragraphs 14, 15 and 16); (e) prepare and present for discussion at COP7 a report with strategic directions and an action plan for implementation assistance, in line with the recommendations proposed by the working group; 3. INVITES Parties, by 31 January 2015, to confirm to the Convention Secretariat their intention to continue as members of the working group or their intention to join the working group; 4. REQUESTS the Convention Secretariat to: (a) provide support and make the necessary arrangements, including budgetary arrangements, for the continued performance of the work of the working group; (b) invite observers under rules 29, 30, and 31 of the Rules of Procedure of the COP with relevant expertise to actively participate in the work of the working group; (c) undertake the actions set out in paragraphs 17, 18, 19, 28, 29, 31, 42, 43, 61, 65, 66, 77, 78, 79, 81 and 82 of the Annex to the report of the working group; (d) to seek the views of relevant international, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations that are or could be instrumental for the implementation of the WHO FCTC about the coordination platform as mentioned in 2 (c) and share these views with the working group in due time in order to support and prepare its work; (e) invite WHO, the World Bank, the United Nations Development Programme and other relevant organizations to cooperate and contribute actively to the actions set out in the Annex to the report of the working group, including: (i) to continue to develop comprehensive tools to cost WHO FCTC implementation and make them available to Parties to be used at country level, adapted to the national context; (ii) to develop and make available a methodological tool to assess the economic impact of tobacco use on the disease burden and health systems, as well as other related social, environmental and economic costs affecting poverty and development, including the health and economic costs of not controlling tobacco consumption; (iii) to support the development of options for the establishment of functioning national multisectoral coordination mechanisms in line with Article 5.2(a) of the WHO FCTC; (f) continue to prepare and present, at every session of the COP, an implementation report on activities undertaken to strengthen implementation of the WHO FCTC in line with this decision and decisions FCTC/COP1(13), FCTC/COP2(10), FCTC/COP4(17) and FCTC/COP5(14). (Fifth plenary meeting, 18 October 2014) = = =
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