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WHO FCTC Working Group meeting in New Delhi
 The Union
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare hosted the first meeting of the
Working Group on Article 17 and 18 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco
Control (WHO FCTC) in New Delhi
from 16 – 18 September, 2009. The
Article 17 of WHO FCTC supports economically viable alternatives for tobacco
workers and growers while Article 18 provides for protection of their
environment and health.
The WHO FCTC, the first treaty aimed at curbing
tobacco-related deaths and disease, has been ratified by 164 countries till
date. A number of working groups have been formed to develop protocols and
guidelines for different provisions of the treaty.
The meeting was inaugurated by the Minister of State
for Health & Family Welfare, Mr Dinesh Trivedi. WHO Representative to India, Dr. S.J. Habayeb; Team Leader, WHO
Convention Secretariat, Dr.A.E.Ogwell Ouma; Director General of Health Services, MoHFW, Dr. R. K. Srivastava;
Additional Secretary, MoHFW, Mr V. Venkatachalam; and
Joint Secretary, MoHFW, Mr B.K. Prasad were present.
Thirty-eight delegates from 18 member countries of the
working group attended the meeting. The Indian delegation included
representatives from the ministries of Health & Family Welfare, Labour, Agriculture and Environment. The representatives from WHO FCTC Secretariat, WHO and civil society participated in
the meeting.
India,
Brazil, Mexico and Greece are the key facilitators
for the Working Group for Article 17 & 18 of WHO FCTC.
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