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Success: CRC Calls to Protect Children’s Rights by Strengthening Tobacco Policies

March 20, 2026

Recently, momentum for a human rights-based approach to tobacco control has been growing, as the human rights field increasingly understands the extreme harm caused by tobacco companies. This is made particularly evident by an important victory in a Concluding Observation from a human rights treaty body– a win that is directly related to advocacy efforts from ASH and our partners in the tobacco control

The Global Fight to Protect Women and Girls from Tobacco

March 6, 2026

Women comprise roughly 20% of the world’s 1 billion+ people who smoke, with about 200 million female tobacco users globally. Although smoking among women is generally decreasing, it is falling at a slower rate than in men. Tobacco disproportionately harms women and girls and is often overlooked as a women’s rights

New Report: Making Tobacco Industry Elimination Inevitable

February 13, 2026

Author: Eline Goethals, The School for Moral Ambition The tobacco industry’s products kill 7 million people annually while generating $880 billion in revenue—more than Google, Meta, and Apple combined. Despite decades of tobacco control progress, the industry is adapting faster than regulations can evolve, pivoting to new nicotine products while

Protect Children, End Tobacco Exploitation in Colombia

February 9, 2026

The tobacco industry is relentlessly targeting children in Colombia, using widespread advertising, promotion, and sponsorship of tobacco products through all types of media. But the truth is far darker: tobacco kills millions, and these tactics violate children’s human rights. We Are Taking Action. 32 organizations are jointly reporting these violations

Protect Children, End Tobacco Exploitation in Spain

February 9, 2026

The tobacco industry is relentlessly targeting children in Spain, using widespread advertising, promotion, and sponsorship of tobacco products through all types of media. But the truth is far darker: tobacco kills millions, and these tactics violate children’s human rights. We Are Taking Action. 64 organizations are jointly reporting these violations

Tobacco Endgame Policies Work and Do Not Harm the Economy | Statement from Laurent Huber

February 3, 2026

Media Contact: Megan Manning [email protected] Tobacco Endgame Policies Work and Do Not Harm the Economy Statement from Laurent Huber, Executive Director of Action on Smoking and Health February 3, 2026 Laws prohibiting the sale of commercial tobacco products in Beverly Hills and Manhattan Beach, California have been in place for

ASH Honors Outgoing Board Chair Doug Blanke and Introduces New Board Chair Carolyn Dresler, MD, MPA

January 13, 2026

Media Contact: Megan Manning (202) 659 – 4310 ASH Honors Outgoing Board Chair Doug Blanke and Introduces New Board Chair Carolyn Dresler, MD, MPA A Tribute to Service and the Next Era of Progress WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 13, 2026 – Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) extends our deepest gratitude

ASH’s Impact in 2025 | Building Toward the End of Tobacco Sales

December 19, 2025

ASH’s work is based on the principle that the actions of the tobacco industry – producing, marketing, and selling addictive products that kill when use as intended – violate human rights, for example the right to health. As such, ASH focuses on 4 key areas of work: (1) Phasing out the

Tobacco Endgame Progress in 2025

December 19, 2025

By: Chris Bostic, ASH Policy Director Some rays of light in a cloudy world: “Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, The courage to change the things I can, And the wisdom to know the difference.” These lines are a personal mantra and emotional survival tool.

Building Youth Engagement through the Youth Advocacy Committee (Marin County)

December 16, 2025

Guest Author: Raven Twilling, Tobacco Prevention Coordinator at Bay Area Community Resources The Youth Advocacy Committee (YAC) functions as an internship program for high school students in Marin County, designed to amplify youth voices in tobacco and nicotine prevention and policy advocacy. Each year, we engage a new cohort of

Statement from Laurent Huber on United Nations Political Declaration on NCDs at HLM4

December 16, 2025

Media Contact: Megan Manning [email protected] Statement from Laurent Huber on United Nations Political Declaration on NCDs at HLM4 December 16, 2025 Action on Smoking and Health welcomes the Political Declaration from the Fourth High-level Meeting of the UN General Assembly on the prevention and control of NCDs and the promotion

2025 Reflection from ASH Executive Director Laurent Huber

December 15, 2025

Is a future where no one dies because of commercial tobacco products within our reach? Yes! What once seemed like an impossible goal is now within our reach. 2025 has taken us several steps closer to this goal, and ASH is proud to have been a leader in realizing this

Embedding Human Rights in WHO FCTC Implementation

December 10, 2025

“There can be no doubt that the production and marketing of tobacco is irreconcilable with the human right to health,” concluded the Danish Institute for Human Rights after their assessment of Philip Morris International (PMI). As such, it’s essential to integrate human rights reporting and their resulting enforcement mechanisms into

2024 Annual Report

December 10, 2025

ASH is proud of its achievements in 2024, but we recognize that tobacco continues to be the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S. and the world. While we have helped reduce smoking prevalence, global population growth means there are more people smoking at the end of 2024 than

FCTC COP11: Mobilization of Resources Decision

December 9, 2025

The eleventh Conference of the Parties (COP 11) of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) adopted a series of key Decisions including FCTC/COP11(12) Mobilization by Parties of sustainable resources for tobacco control. ASH is a proud supporter of this Decision adopted by the COP, the governing body of the Framework Convention

FCTC COP11: Article 2.1 (Forward-Looking Measures) Decision

December 9, 2025

The Eleventh Conference of the Parties (COP11) of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) adopted a series of key Decisions including FCTC/COP11(5) Forward-looking tobacco control measures (in relation to Article 2.1 of the WHO FCTC). ASH is a proud supporter of this Decision adopted by the COP, the

FCTC COP11: Article 18 (Protection of the Environment) Decision

December 9, 2025

The Eleventh Conference of the Parties (COP11) of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) adopted a series of key Decisions including FCTC/COP11(10) Implementation of Article 18 of the WHO FCTC. ASH is a proud supporter of this Decision adopted by the COP, the governing body of the Framework

FCTC COP11: Article 19 (Liability) Decision

December 9, 2025

The eleventh Conference of the Parties (COP 11) of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) adopted a series of key Decisions including FCTC/COP11(6) Implementation of Article 19 of the WHO FCTC on Liability ASH is a proud supporter of this Decision adopted by the COP, the governing body of the Framework

Join ASH’s 31 Days of Generosity Challenge

November 24, 2025

This December, ASH invites you to take part in a simple, uplifting challenge: 31 days of small acts of kindness and generosity. Together, we can close out the year by lifting others up, supporting healthier communities, and celebrating the tobacco-free communities we’re all working to replicate and protect. Our 31

Nations Advance Global Health at WHO Tobacco Treaty Negotiations

November 22, 2025

Media Contact: Megan Manning [email protected] (202) 390 – 9513 Nations Advance Global Health at WHO Tobacco Treaty Negotiations Decisions on Liability, Environment and Forward-Looking Measures Blaze a Path towards Endgame GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – NOVEMBER 22, 2025 – Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) led an esteemed delegation to the 11th Conference of

COP11 Synopsis: WHO Tobacco Treaty Negotiations

November 22, 2025

November 22, 2025 – The theme of COP 11 was “Uniting Generations for a Tobacco-Free Future;” a theme which turned out to be an apt indicator of the progress that was made. Article 2.1- Forward Looking Measures In advance of the COP, an Expert Group met and drafted a report

COP11 Day 5: WHO Tobacco Treaty Negotiations

November 21, 2025

November 21, 2025 – Throughout the opening statements by the Parties at the COP Plenary on Day 1, government delegations were consistent in congratulating the President of the Convention, and then they would go through the various articles to which they claimed compliance. It was so very striking how minimal

COP11 Day 4: WHO Tobacco Treaty Negotiations

November 20, 2025

November 20, 2025 – As predicted in the Day 3 blog, debate about the Article 2.1 Expert Group report and decision on Forward Looking Measures (also known as tobacco endgame) soaked up time until the end of the day. These measures are broadly grouped under four domains: tobacco supply, institutional structure/market,

COP11 Day 3: WHO Tobacco Treaty Negotiations

November 19, 2025

November 19, 2025 – The third day of COP11 had mixed outcomes. Agenda items included making UN campuses nicotine and aerosol free, Article 18 on the Environment, and Article 19 on Liability as well as Article 2.1 Forward-Looking Measures (FLMs) – all ASH priorities. Article 19 on Liability was a

COP11 Day 2: WHO Tobacco Treaty Negotiations

November 18, 2025

November 18, 2025 – Today the COP shifted in high gear and began debating substantive issues. First on the docket is Article 2.1, Forward-Looking Measures (FLMs). ASH has taken a lead on this issue for the civil society community for one important reason – the report on FLMs that the

Join ASH’s 31 Days of Generosity Challenge

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