Signing of an agreement between Santé Publique France and the secretariat of the WHO Framework Convention

On July 5, 2022, Santé publique France (SPF) and the Secretariat of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) in the person of Dr. Adriana Blanco Marquizo signed a memorandum of understanding for the creation of a knowledge hub on tobacco[1]This bilingual platform in English and French will aim to promote the transfer of knowledge between the parties to the treaty, particularly French-speaking African countries, and to the stakeholders concerned in order to strengthen the implementation of effective actions in the fight against tobacco in these countries.

There World Health Organization Framework Convention for Tobacco Control is a legally binding, evidence-based multilateral treaty with 182 parties. It is one of the most widely ratified treaties in the United Nations system. Its objective is to " protect present and future generations from the devastating health, social, environmental and economic consequences of smoking and exposure to tobacco smoke ".

Dissemination of education, public awareness and training measures

This agreement concretizes France's commitment on an international scale with the creation of the first FCTC knowledge center on education, communication, training and public awareness, areas covered in Article 12 of the Convention.

The public agency, Santé publique France, was selected to implement this system because of its expertise in the field, whether in monitoring the epidemic, its health consequences, studying smokers' behavior, carrying out information and prevention campaigns including the large-scale social marketing operation Mois sans tabac, evaluating the actions carried out, or producing essential indicators for anti-smoking strategies.

Article 12 of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) calls on Parties to “ promote and strengthen public awareness of tobacco control issues ", including the health risks of tobacco use, the benefits of quitting smoking, the tobacco industry and tobacco production. Each Party is required to implement measures to raise awareness among both the general public and professional groups, including health workers, media professionals and policy makers.

In addition, information dimensions associated with the issue of protection from exposure to tobacco smoke (Article 8 of the Treaty) and the promotion of cessation (Article 14 of the FCTC) will be included.

Nine knowledge hubs in the world

This knowledge center financed by the fund to fight addictions will be on the 9th^e worldwide and the second in Europe. These knowledge hubs help Parties to the Convention implement the WHO FCTC, whether in the field of tobacco surveillance or public policies. In addition to this next hub dedicated to education, communication, training and public awareness, the other centres of expertise concern legal issues and procedures, tobacco surveillance (Art. 20), smokeless tobacco, waterpipes, taxation (Art. 6) and illicit trade (Art. 15), protection of public policies from tobacco industry interference (Art. 5.3), protection of the environment and tobacco workers (Arts. 17 and 18).

These various centres analyse, synthesise and disseminate knowledge and information to the parties to the convention, and provide assistance to the parties in the implementation of the treaty.

A launch planned for 2023

The platform will be the first of nine to offer content in two languages (English and French). It will go online in 2023. It will list the various existing anti-tobacco measures that have proven their effectiveness in the fields of information, prevention and social marketing.

At the same time, the platform will offer methodological content for the implementation and evaluation of information, prevention, behavior change and evaluation campaigns within the States Parties to the Framework Convention. Public Health France will thus gradually develop training courses, seminars and other methodological tools aimed at helping Parties who wish to do so, to strengthen their skills in these areas.

Keywords: Public Health France, Framework Convention, WHO, knowledge hub

Photo credit: ©Public Health France

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AE