Human rights: economic, social and cultural rights must be protected from interference by the tobacco industry.

The right to science and culture is one of the economic, social and cultural rights (ESCR) enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and related documents of international human rights law. It recognizes that everyone has the right to freely participate in culture, to freely engage in (participate in and benefit from) science and technology, and to protect their status as authors. Article 15 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (DESC) provides that “Science is an extraordinarily powerful tool for advancing human development and promoting the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights.” The organization Action for Smoking and Health, ASH Washington, an active member of the Alliance for the Framework Convention and supported by some twenty health organizations also wishes to add that science and technology can also be falsified or manipulated for the benefit of companies. Certain developments in science and technology may sometimes have a negative impact on the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights for example when they are used for war and destruction or when they create new risks to health or the environment. » There is extensive documentation of the work of front organizations or groups created by or associated with the tobacco industry and of initiatives undertaken by the industry, whose purpose is to deliberately use science or pseudoscience to thwart legitimate scientific analysis of the harm caused by tobacco. This manipulation continues with the new “Foundation for a Smoke-Free World.” In September 2017, Philip Morris International, established the “Foundation for a Smoke-Free World,” with nearly $1 billion in funding over 12 years. The Foundation claims to be an independent scientific body aimed at “accelerating tobacco cessation.” Yet controversy has surrounded the Foundation since its inception; its claims to legitimacy and independence have been heavily contested. The guidelines of Article 5.3 of the FCTC bring together measures based on good practices to help countries achieve this objective of protecting public policies. They provide in particular that Parties should " require that information provided by the tobacco industry be transparent and accurate "This requirement should also be part of the texts under discussion within the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, according to the following terms.

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