Latest news with #MartinCullip
Cision Canada
4 days ago
- Health
- Cision Canada
Global Panel Urges Rapid Reform of WHO and FCTC to Embrace Science, Transparency, and Consumer Voices
WASHINGTON, June 17, 2025 /CNW/ -- The Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) is leading a robust and candid panel discussion on Wednesday alongside the Global Forum on Nicotine in Warsaw, Poland. Consumer advocates will issue a resounding call for urgent reform of the taxpayer-funded World Health Organization (WHO) and its tobacco control arm, the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). The panel argues that years of politicized policymaking, opaque governance, and disregard for consumer perspectives have rendered the FCTC increasingly ineffective and out of touch with scientific and social realities. Calls for reform of international health institutions have intensified in recent years, with the WHO's pandemic response drawing widespread criticism and renewed scrutiny of its broader governance failures. The FCTC has not been immune. With smoking rates not declining in many regions and growing disillusionment about the Convention's approach, panellists say it's time for a serious reset. Martin Cullip, TPA International Fellow, observes that it has been clear for some time that WHO policies are missing the mark. "The FCTC has become a political instrument rather than a science-based treaty. If the WHO is serious about reform, the FCTC must be radically overhauled." Ignacio Leiva, President of ASOVAPE in Chile, shares his country's perspective. "In Chile, including consumer voices helped us pass a law that recognizes the difference between smoking and vaping. That's exactly what the FCTC needs. Evidence-based policymaking built on dialogue, not dogma." Nancy Loucas, representing Asian consumers, highlights the real-world harms of the WHO's current stance. "The WHO's policy shift against tobacco harm reduction ignores decades of evidence and disproportionately punishes low and middle-income countries. This isn't public health, it's health inequality." Consumer advocacy is a recurring theme, with speakers emphasising the importance of hearing from the people most affected by nicotine policies. Maria Papaioannoy of Rights 4 Vapers, Canada, emphasizes that "it's critical to counter the misinformation about safer nicotine products, especially when it comes from those in power. Consumers have voices, and it's time they were heard at FCTC COP11." Tom Gleeson, Trustee of New Nicotine Alliance Ireland, echoes the call for evidence-based reform. "The FCTC hasn't adapted since 2005 to account for safer nicotine products," he said. "Instead, it pats itself on the back for reducing percentages while the number of smokers stays the same. The war on tobacco shouldn't come at the cost of the very people it's meant to help." The panel discussion concludes with a unified appeal. Reform must focus on transparency, scientific integrity, and consumer inclusion. Participants call on the WHO and FCTC to step away from ideological posturing and prohibitionist strategies and instead commit to pragmatic policies that save lives. The panel's message is clear. Real reform starts when science speaks louder than politics and when the people most affected are invited to the table.
Malaysian Reserve
28-05-2025
- Health
- Malaysian Reserve
Global Experts Warn WHO's Anti-Harm Reduction Stance Undermines World No Tobacco Day
WASHINGTON, May 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — A panel of global tobacco harm reduction experts convened this week to criticize the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) Secretariat for undermining the goals of World No Tobacco Day. The group expressed frustration over the WHO's refusal to support harm reduction tools—such as vaping and nicotine pouches—despite growing evidence of their effectiveness in helping smokers quit. Participants from Australia, South Africa, and the United Kingdom argued that the WHO's prohibitionist approach is counterproductive, exacerbating smoking-related deaths and fueling black markets. Martin Cullip, International Fellow at the Taxpayers Protection Alliance, said the WHO is ignoring the populations most at risk. 'The WHO dismisses adult smokers and vapers, even though adults bear the vast majority of tobacco-related harm,' he said. 'It's odd to see the organization celebrate bans on products that aren't even made from tobacco.' Pippa Starr, founder of A.L.I.V.E. (Australia, Let's Improve Vaping Education), highlighted Australia's challenges. 'Australia has a massive black market and 66 people die daily from smoking-related disease,' she said. 'These outcomes are tied to WHO-endorsed policies. Rather than reward failed approaches, the WHO should be focused on saving lives.' Kurt Yeo, co-founder of South Africa's Vaping Saved My Life (VSML), criticized the WHO's detachment from on-the-ground realities. 'WHO policies are scripted and disconnected,' Yeo said. 'We need a full range of tools to achieve a smoke-free future. Prohibition has failed in countries like Mexico, India, and Singapore. The WHO isn't facing the real issues.' Reem Ibrahim, Communications Manager at the UK's Institute of Economic Affairs, said the WHO is ignoring the evidence. 'Harm reduction works. These products help people quit. But the WHO's strategy blocks access and ultimately harms public health.' Panelists emphasized the contradiction in the WHO's mission: while claiming to reduce tobacco deaths, it continues to oppose safer alternatives proven to help smokers quit. The group urged the WHO and FCTC to embrace innovation, listen to consumers, and support harm reduction as a legitimate path to ending the global smoking epidemic.
Cision Canada
28-05-2025
- Health
- Cision Canada
Global Experts Warn WHO's Anti-Harm Reduction Stance Undermines World No Tobacco Day
WASHINGTON, May 28, 2025 /CNW/ -- A panel of global tobacco harm reduction experts convened this week to criticize the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) Secretariat for undermining the goals of World No Tobacco Day. The group expressed frustration over the WHO's refusal to support harm reduction tools—such as vaping and nicotine pouches—despite growing evidence of their effectiveness in helping smokers quit. Participants from Australia, South Africa, and the United Kingdom argued that the WHO's prohibitionist approach is counterproductive, exacerbating smoking-related deaths and fueling black markets. Martin Cullip, International Fellow at the Taxpayers Protection Alliance, said the WHO is ignoring the populations most at risk. "The WHO dismisses adult smokers and vapers, even though adults bear the vast majority of tobacco-related harm," he said. "It's odd to see the organization celebrate bans on products that aren't even made from tobacco." Pippa Starr, founder of A.L.I.V.E. (Australia, Let's Improve Vaping Education), highlighted Australia's challenges. "Australia has a massive black market and 66 people die daily from smoking-related disease," she said. "These outcomes are tied to WHO-endorsed policies. Rather than reward failed approaches, the WHO should be focused on saving lives." Kurt Yeo, co-founder of South Africa's Vaping Saved My Life (VSML), criticized the WHO's detachment from on-the-ground realities. "WHO policies are scripted and disconnected," Yeo said. "We need a full range of tools to achieve a smoke-free future. Prohibition has failed in countries like Mexico, India, and Singapore. The WHO isn't facing the real issues." Reem Ibrahim, Communications Manager at the UK's Institute of Economic Affairs, said the WHO is ignoring the evidence. "Harm reduction works. These products help people quit. But the WHO's strategy blocks access and ultimately harms public health." Panelists emphasized the contradiction in the WHO's mission: while claiming to reduce tobacco deaths, it continues to oppose safer alternatives proven to help smokers quit. The group urged the WHO and FCTC to embrace innovation, listen to consumers, and support harm reduction as a legitimate path to ending the global smoking epidemic.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Global Experts Warn WHO's Anti-Harm Reduction Stance Undermines World No Tobacco Day
WASHINGTON, May 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A panel of global tobacco harm reduction experts convened this week to criticize the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) Secretariat for undermining the goals of World No Tobacco Day. The group expressed frustration over the WHO's refusal to support harm reduction tools—such as vaping and nicotine pouches—despite growing evidence of their effectiveness in helping smokers quit. Participants from Australia, South Africa, and the United Kingdom argued that the WHO's prohibitionist approach is counterproductive, exacerbating smoking-related deaths and fueling black markets. Martin Cullip, International Fellow at the Taxpayers Protection Alliance, said the WHO is ignoring the populations most at risk. "The WHO dismisses adult smokers and vapers, even though adults bear the vast majority of tobacco-related harm," he said. "It's odd to see the organization celebrate bans on products that aren't even made from tobacco." Pippa Starr, founder of A.L.I.V.E. (Australia, Let's Improve Vaping Education), highlighted Australia's challenges. "Australia has a massive black market and 66 people die daily from smoking-related disease," she said. "These outcomes are tied to WHO-endorsed policies. Rather than reward failed approaches, the WHO should be focused on saving lives." Kurt Yeo, co-founder of South Africa's Vaping Saved My Life (VSML), criticized the WHO's detachment from on-the-ground realities. "WHO policies are scripted and disconnected," Yeo said. "We need a full range of tools to achieve a smoke-free future. Prohibition has failed in countries like Mexico, India, and Singapore. The WHO isn't facing the real issues." Reem Ibrahim, Communications Manager at the UK's Institute of Economic Affairs, said the WHO is ignoring the evidence. "Harm reduction works. These products help people quit. But the WHO's strategy blocks access and ultimately harms public health." Panelists emphasized the contradiction in the WHO's mission: while claiming to reduce tobacco deaths, it continues to oppose safer alternatives proven to help smokers quit. The group urged the WHO and FCTC to embrace innovation, listen to consumers, and support harm reduction as a legitimate path to ending the global smoking epidemic. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Taxpayers Protection Alliance
