WHO acknowledges contributions in tobacco control from public health leaders and organizations from the Americas – PAHO/WHO

Washington DC May 23, 2024 (PAHO) – Public health and legal professionals, a congresswoman and civil society organizations from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Uruguay were recognized today by the World Health Organization (WHO) with the 2024 World No Tobacco Day Awards.

Each year, WHO recognizes individuals or organizations that have made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of policies and measures included in the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). Winners are selected from nominations submitted in a global public call. This year’s winners from the Americas are individuals and organizations that have made exceptional contributions to advancing tobacco control during 2023:

Vera da Costa and Silva has been a global pioneer in advancing tobacco control since the 1980s, initially focusing on its home country, Brazil. She was instrumental in establishing the Brazilian National Commission for the Negotiation and Implementation of the WHO FCTC (CONICQ), where she currently serves as Executive Secretary. From mid-2014 to early 2020, she served as Head of the WHO FCTC Secretariat. As a leader in tobacco control, Dr. da Costa e Silva’s tireless work at the national, regional and global levels continues to inspire present and future generations in the ongoing fight against the tobacco epidemic.

Gustavo Sonora has been a voice advocating for tobacco control and children’s rights over corporate interests for nearly twenty years. Her journey began in her native country of Uruguay, where she played a key role in the passage of the 2008 Tobacco Control Law as a parliamentary advisor. She joined both local and global civil society organizations, including the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases and Vital Strategies, and has been instrumental in advancing the tobacco control agenda in the Americas.

Congresswoman Carolina Giraldo Botero. She assumed her parliamentary position in the Republic of Colombia in 2022 and has since been unwavering in her efforts to advocate for national legislative changes to protect children from the tobacco industry. He advocated for an increase in the cigarette tax and for the imposition of taxes on novel and emerging tobacco and nicotine products in the 2022 tax reform. When these efforts were unsuccessful, he took decisive action by introducing a standalone bill to promote these policies.

Colombian Corporation of Parents Red PaPaz is a nonprofit organization founded in 2003 and committed to safeguarding the well-being of children and adolescents against the harms of tobacco and nicotine addiction. Through its educational network, Red PaPaz launched the online petition #LeyVapeadoresRegulados, urging the Colombian Congress to approve a bill that extends tobacco control measures to novel and emerging nicotine and tobacco products. After two years of deliberations, a corresponding bill was enacted in May 2024. Their campaign also led to seven youth initiatives to prevent the use of these products and raise awareness about their toxicity and the industry’s sales tactics aimed at children.

National of Argentina, Gianella Severini has been a driving force over the last decade in creating a network of young advocates in Latin America dedicated to human rights and tobacco control. Their efforts have built capacity, empowered youth and provided a platform where they can engage government, civil society and academia to advance tobacco control policies. In her role as senior legal coordinator for the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Dr. Severini has provided strategic guidance on policy development with a focus on protecting gains, preventing setbacks, and resisting tobacco industry interference. At 32 years old, she has become a key figure in legal issues related to tobacco control in Latin America.

Alberto José de Araújo (in memory) and Antonio Pedro Mirra (in memoriam) were considered pioneers of the tobacco control movement in their country of origin, Brazil. They played a vital role in establishing a tobacco control program within the Brazilian Medical Association in the 1970s, where they both served as presidents of the Anti-Smoking Commission. His efforts paved the way for the first National Anti-Smoking Program in 1985. In addition, Dr. Araújo led the efforts to create the Center for the Study and Treatment of Smokers (NETT), which today is one of the reference sites regarding smoking in the country. smoking cessation treatment and tobacco control policies. Dr. Mirra founded and directed the São Paulo Cancer Registry and coordinated several studies on cancer epidemiology and tobacco control as a professor at the Faculty of Public Health at the University of São Paulo.

Tobacco kills more than eight million people every year around the world, one million of them in the Americas. World No Tobacco Day was created by WHO Member States in 1987 and is commemorated every May 31 with the aim of raising awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke. The World No Tobacco Awards are presented every year on the international day.

The theme of World No Tobacco Day 2024 is Protect children from tobacco industry interference. The campaign provides a platform for young people to call for an end to the tobacco industry’s efforts to target them with harmful products and for governments to adopt policies that protect them from the industry’s manipulative practices, including the relentless marketing of products. of tobacco through social media and streaming. platforms.