31st May of Every year is celebrated as World No Tobacco Day created by the Member States of the World Health Organization(WHO) in 1987 to educate the public on the effects of tobacco and tobacco related diseases.
The theme of World No Tobacco Day 2020 is “Protecting youth from industry manipulation and preventing them from tobacco and nicotine use” to counter the tobacco industries marketing approach to attract the youth to use the tobacco and nicotine products.
Background:
The World Health Assembly passed the Resolution WHA40.38 making 7th April world no-smoking day and the Resolution WHA42.19 for World No Tobacco Day on 31st May in 1988.
Objectives of 2020 campaign:
i.To expose the marketing tactics targeting youths including the new and novel products with flavours and other features.
ii.Educate the youth on the intentions of tobacco and related industries to hook the future generations on the usage of tobacco, e-cigarettes, nicotine substances and other vaping devices.
iii.Empower the influencers (in pop culture, on social media, in home and classroom) to protect and defend youth in the fight against tobacco.
Tactics of Tobacco industries:
- Promoting clean and reduced harm alternatives
- Attractive and sleek design and flavours
- Sales and vending machines near the schools and other places.
- Indirect marketing (movies, TV shows, online shows)
About TFI:
As a part of the Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health cluster, WHO established the Tobacco Free Initiative (TFI), to promote tobacco control works.
Programme Manager – Vinayak Mohan Prasad
Established – 1998
Headquarters – Geneva, Switzerland
