Women’s Caucus WHO – Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) Geneva – 22 – 29 November, 2001 The women’s caucus met in Geneva on the occasion of the INB3 - Third Intergovernmental Negotiating Body meeting for the FCTC. The WAA2015 was submitted to the FCA – Framework Convention Alliance, an heterogeneous alliance of non-governmental organizations working to support the development of an effective, evidence based FCTC, and related protocols, and to the Women’s Caucus by Paula Johns. The Women’s Caucus revised and discussed the document and made contributions for the insertion of tobacco control issues in the WAA2015 to be presented in Rio + 10. The group found that the document did not have any references to the FCTC and believes that the contents of the treaty to be are extremely relevant in the context of the Women’s Action Agenda 21 for a Peaceful and Healthy Planet 2015. Furthermore the group believes that the Earth Summit is a good opportunity to introduce FCTC recommendations to Government delegates and to NGOs. This can enhance the outreach of the FCTC to other organizations, particularly in developing countries, who could benefit from and support the creation of a strong treaty. In a few words, the Women’s Caucus agrees that tobacco control is an important issue of sustainable development, and it is strongly related to the themes that follows. Theme 4: Tensions Between the Free Market Ideology and Sustainable Production and Consumption Goals 11. International organizations such as the World Trade Organization focus primarily on strategies that will promote trade and do not adequately consider the consequences for the poor, the powerless, the environment and health. For example, under WTO rules, tobacco companies are able to flood markets with aggressive advertising targeting girls and women. As a result, rates of smoking are soaring, particularly in developing countries. Rules often support inequality and do not consider, or are in conflict with, the postRio agenda. Dispute resolution procedures often exclude voices representing the public interest. The WTO supports existing power structures with women and the poor underrepresented in decision-making. 14. Educate the public about the effects of consumption patterns on production, including information about activities and products that emit pollutants or greenhouse gases, deplete natural resources, stress ecosystems, or exploit workers. Inform the public about the “footprints” they and their society leave on the Earth. Develop public service advertisements to educate consumers and change behaviour, including counter-advertisement on tobacco. Use marketing professionals to develop such information campaigns. Develop school curricula to teach about human rights and the environment. Theme 6: Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights and the Environment 3. Concerns are growing in the scientific community about the linkages between, poverty, environmental trends, women and reproductive health. A variety of chemicals, are associated with cancer in women – including lung, breast, ovarian, cervical, uterine and vaginal – pregnancy failures and childhood development difficulties. Poverty, smoking and second-hand smoke, and accompanying malnutrition are also associated with reproductive health problems. Special concern has been expressed about the effect of persistent organic pollutants (POPS) on human reproductive disorders. Chemicals containing POPs are feared to be “endocrine disrupters,” which interfere with normal hormone function and undermine reproductive health, with impacts on fertility, miscarriage, sperm counts, certain cancers, and puberty for girls. Tobacco and cigarettes compounds are responsible for around 4 million deaths a year, the consequences of tobacco consumption and second-hand smoke need to be treated as issues of reproductive health. 10. Sexual and reproductive health and other basic human needs – education, sanitation, clean water, and nutrition – are equally important and interdependent; all are human rights and give rise to state obligations. Especially for women, good pre-natal and obstetric care, safe and reliable contraception, HIV/AIDS prevention and care, and other aspects of health, including information about the damaging nature of smoking and second-hand smoke, especially during pregnancy and nursing, are inseparable from such basic amenities as reliable transportation, hygienic conditions, and clean water. At the same time, women’s rights to liberty, security of the person, and development are unattainable without comprehensive, accessible and affordable sexual and reproductive health services and the freedom to make decisions about sexuality and fertility. Theses rights form a seamless web, and all are grounded in basic human needs.
21. By 2005, 60 percent of primary health care and family planning facilities should offer the widest achievable range of safe and effective family planning methods, essential obstetric care, prevention and management of reproductive tract infections, including sexually transmitted diseases, tobacco quitting programs for parents, and barrier methods to prevent infection; 80 percent of facilities should offer such services by 2010, and all should do so by 2015. 33. Support the WHO - Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), to be finalised by 2003 - that will require governments to pass legislation on tobacco control measures. Among other things, tobacco companies shall provide true and adequate information about the harms provoked by tobacco products. Theme 7: Environmental Security: Protecting the Health of Present and Future Generations. 10. Women have different susceptibilities to various environmental hazards, contaminants and substances from men, and they suffer different consequences from the exposure to these. These risks to women’s health are particularly high in urban areas, as well as in low-income areas where there is high concentration of polluting industrial facilities or agricultural activities. Occupational health issues are growing in importance, as a growing number of women work in low-paid jobs in either the formal and informal labour market under tedious and unhealthy conditions. Also unsafe environmental conditions in houses, poor sanitation and waste treatment present new threats to health, particularly for women, who have the highest levels of exposure. Exposure to indoor air pollutants, particularly second-hand smoke, increases risks for cancers of the lung, breast, cervix and other cancers of the reproductive systems affect growing number of women, including severe risk to pregnant women and their foetus, and may be preventable or curable, if detected early. 18. Increase women’s access throughout the life cycle to appropriate, affordable and quality health care, information and related services, and strengthen preventive programmes that promote women’s health. Provide full and adequate information about the addictive and damaging nature of tobacco products as well as tobacco quitting programs. Theme 9: Gender Dimension of Sustainable Cities 7. Apart from its effect on health and well-being, environmental degradation and pollution continue to constrain development and growth of cities. For example, less that 35 percent of cities in developing countries have their wastewater treated. Huge inequities prevail between affluent and poor parts of cities, causing significant environmental injustice. Ill health and premature death not only cause pain and suffering, they also impose heavy costs on the economy. For example, costs of treating lung and other diseases caused by exposure to second-hand smoke, including children suffering from asthma, are estimated to be in the millions of dollars. An increasing number of countries now recognize the key principles of environmental management; 49 percent of cities globally have established urban environment plans.
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Women Caucus Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Geneva – 22 – 29 November, 2001 1. Rudo Mungwashu Box Cy 3253 Causeway, Harare, Zimbabwe E-Mail:Nhosira@yahoo.com Hs. 743, Zimre Park P.O. Ruwa – Zimbabwe 2. Soon-Young Yoon 915 Castle Point Terrace– Hoboken N.J. 07030 – Usa E-Mail: Syngo1@rol.com 3. Dr. Shahnaz Shahrokhi Family Medicin – Mph Head Of Tabaco Central Unit of Islahan Cardiovascular Research Centre 4. Assoc. Prof. Liliana Tsoneva Pentcheva, Ph. D. “Women Against Pobacco” – Bulgaria E-Mail: lilitsoneva@exco.net 5. Tania Amir The Law Associates / Law 2 Society Trust nd 203 Concord Tower, 2 Fl., 113 113 Kazi Nazrul Islam Ave Dhaka – 1000 – Bangladesh E-Mail: amir@bd.mail.net 6. Martina Poetschke-Langer Md, Head Of Unit Cancer Presention German Cancer Researea Center In Neliew 1781 Mer Feld 280 65120 – Heidelberg – Germann E-Mail: m. poetschke-langer@dkfz.de 7. He Min All-China Women’s Federation / Children Work Department Nº 15, Jian Guo Men Nei Street Beijing – 100730 – China 8. Eva Kralikova st Smoking Cesation Clinic At The 1 Med. Fac. Charles University Studnickova 7 12800 Prague 2 Czech Republic E-Mail: kralikova@lf1.cuni.cz 9. Garret L. Mehl, Pnd, Mhs Tabacco Free Initiative Who Geneva, Switzerland Tel.: (41) 22-791-3843 E-Mail: mehlg@who.int
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10. Mala Pal 38 Chemin Au Pont Céard, Ch-1290 Versoix – Geneva 11. Litha Musyimi-Ogana United Nations Ave Gigiri, Po Box 60375 Nairobi – Kenya 12. Paula Johns Rua Álvaro Alvim , 21 / 16º Andar 20031-010 – Centro – Rio De Janeiro E-Mail: paula@redeh.org.br
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