The WHO Tobacco Convention: A New Dawn in the Implementation of International Health Instrument? Comment on "The Legal Strength of International Health Instruments - What It Brings to Global Health Governance?"

Ebenezer Durojaye

doi:10.15171/ijhpm.2017.70

Abstract

The Tobacco Convention was adopted by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2003. Nikogosian and Kickbusch examine the five potential impacts of the Tobacco Convention and its Protocol on public health. These include the adoption of the Convention would seem to unlock the treaty-making powers of WHO; the impact of the Convention in the global health architecture has been phenomenal globally; the Convention has facilitated the adoption of further instruments to strengthen its implementation at the national level; the Convention has led to the adoption of appropriate legal framework to combat the use of tobacco at the national level and that the impact of the Convention would seem to go beyond public health but has also led to the adoption of the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco. However, the article by Nikogosian and Kickbusch would seem to overlook some of the challenges that may militate against the effective implementation of international law, including the Tobacco Convention, at the national level.

Highlights

The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (the Tobacco Convention or Convention) was adopted in 2003.1 The Tobacco Convention is one of the most widely ratified international instruments to date
The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control was adopted in 2003.1 The Tobacco Convention is one of the most widely ratified international instruments to date
The authors examine the five potential impacts of the Tobacco Convention and its Protocol on public health. These include, unlocking the treaty-making powers of World Health Organization (WHO); global phenomenal impact of the Convention in international public health architecture; facilitating the adoption of further instruments to strengthen the implementation at the national level; adoption of appropriate legal framework to combat the use of tobacco at the national level and widely recognised impact of the Convention beyond public health to include the adoption of the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco

Summary

Introduction

The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (the Tobacco Convention or Convention) was adopted in 2003.1 The Tobacco Convention is one of the most widely ratified international instruments to date. Nikogosian and Kickbusch would seem to argue that the adoption of the Convention has led to a significant development at the international level.[4] According to the authors, the impact of the Convention cannot be underestimated as it has demonstrated how international law may influence public health at the national level.

Results

Conclusion