• Who We Are
  • What We Do
    • Research
    • Technical Support and Capacity Building
    • Communications Support
    • Partnerships
  • Priority Issues
    • Tobacco Taxation
    • Smoke-Free Environment
    • E-cigarette Regulation
    • Tobacco Industry Monitoring
    • NCD Prevention And Control
  • Resources
    • Videos
    • News and Insights
    • Infographics and Fact Sheets
  • Get Involved
    • Connect With Us
    • Join Our Team
Health advocates urge gov’t to protect tobacco control laws from tobacco industry interference
September 18, 2014
Health groups calls for protection against tobacco companies’ exploitation of tobacco farmers
September 18, 2014

How do we hold the tobacco industry liable for its abuses?

Published by hj on September 18, 2014
Categories
  • Press Release
Tags

Of the 17 million Filipino adults today that smoke, half will end up suffering or dying from tobacco-related diseases. It is currently estimated that 10 Filipinos are dying every hour due to diseases from tobacco products. Tobacco use is more than just personal choice, it is an addiction. An addiction peddled by the tobacco industry.

 

In the US, the Master Settlement Agreement resulted from the pursuit of liability actions by state governments against tobacco companies. This agreement revealed an immense number of internal tobacco industry documents which exposes wrongful industry conduct, including its concealment and destruction of the results of sensitive research proving the harms of smoking. These documents, which were produced in litigation, are required to be made available in a public website.

 

“These documents reveal that the tobacco industry has been lying to the public about the harmful effects of its products, while simultaneously pushing its addictive and deadly products to the market, and preventing effective tobacco control measures.” shares Irene Reyes, HealthJustice Managing Director in a media briefing sponsored by HealthJustice.  “In other countries, litigating against the tobacco industry has not only exposed wrongful conduct, but also provided much-needed resources to implement tobacco control measures”, added Reyes.

 

In 2005, the Philippines ratified and concurred in the WHO FCTC, a legally binding treaty that provides the foundation for countries to implement and manage tobacco control measures to address the tobacco epidemic.

 

Article 19 is a powerful provision in the treaty that obliges Parties, including the Philippines, to consider taking legislative action or promoting their existing laws, where necessary, to deal with criminal and civil liability of tobacco companies, including compensation for tobacco victims where appropriate.  The WHO FCTC further recognizes in its guiding principles that issues relating to tobacco industry liability complements numerous other tobacco-control measures.

 

“Public interest litigation allows aggrieved parties to take legal action to enforce existing tobacco control measures, or pursue remedies for industry misconduct. Based on the Philippine experience, however, the tobacco industry has billions to hire the biggest law firms, while the ordinary Filipino has barely enough money to pay for the costs of hospitalization, let alone the costs of filing a case. Thus, we nee more information and guidance on how Parties to the FCTC can effectively use Article 19 to implement tobacco control measures.” notes Atty. Patricia Miranda, one of the volunteer lawyers representing former Department of Health Secretaries in a case for Graphic Health Information pending in the Supreme Court.

 

The call comes at an opportune time as Parties to the WHO FCTC are meeting in Moscow next month to discuss a global strategy in implementing effective tobacco control measures. HealthJustice is calling on the country’s policymakers to ensure that the protection of the health and welfare of Filipinos, not the business and commercial interests of the tobacco companies, remains at the forefront and the paramount consideration as they discuss life-saving measures at the global conference.

Share
0

Related posts

January 25, 2023

House bill seeking to hike excise tax on e-cigarettes gains support


Read more
December 8, 2022

Stop smoking, eat healthy, exercise and prevent lung cancer—expert


Read more
December 8, 2020

Public health advocates alarmed as PH ranking slips in Global Tobacco Control Report


Read more

Follow Us

Facebook Twitter Youtube
  • A healthy lifestyle is key to a healthy heart

    A healthy lifestyle is key to a healthy heart

    February 23, 2023
  • House bill seeking to hike excise tax on e-cigarettes gains support

    House bill seeking to hike excise tax on e-cigarettes gains support

    January 25, 2023
  • Higher taxes for ‘sin’ goods urged

    Higher taxes for ‘sin’ goods urged

    December 31, 2022
  • Stop smoking, eat healthy, exercise and prevent lung cancer—expert

    Stop smoking, eat healthy, exercise and prevent lung cancer—expert

    December 8, 2022
  • 2021 TOBACCO INDUSTRY<br>INTERFERENCE INDEX

    2021 TOBACCO INDUSTRY<br>INTERFERENCE INDEX

    October 19, 2022
  • Smoking is tied to more aggressive form of prostate cancer–study

    Smoking is tied to more aggressive form of prostate cancer–study

    August 22, 2022

HealthJustice is a public health think tank that aims to bridge the gap between health and law to empower Filipinos to make healthy choices. The founding members of HealthJustice include doctors, lawyers, and economists who have been recognized for their services in both the private and public sector.

Our Partners

  • World Health Organization
  • Department of Health
  • Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance
  • Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids
  • Global Center for Good Governance
  • NCD Alliance

Contact Us

  • Room 106-B Philippine Social Science Center Commonwealth Avenue Diliman, Quezon City
  • (+632) 8709 7503
  • info@healthjustice.ph
  • healthjustice.ph@gmail.com

Follow Us

Facebook Twitter Youtube

HealthJustice is a public health think tank that aims to bridge the gap between health and law to empower Filipinos to make healthy choices. The founding members of HealthJustice include doctors, lawyers, and economists who have been recognized for their services in both the private and public sector.

Our Partners

  • World Health Organization
  • Department of Health
  • Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance
  • Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids
  • Global Center for Good Governance
  • NCD Alliance

Contact Us

  • Room 106-B Philippine Social Science Center
    Commonwealth Avenue Diliman, Quezon City
  • (+632) 8709 7503
  • info@healthjustice.ph
  • healthjustice.ph@gmail.com

Follow Us

Facebook Twitter Youtube

Copyright © | HealthJustice Philippines | All Rights Reserved