EDITORIAL
Using human rights measures to advance tobacco
control- Japan and the Committee on the Elimination of
Discrimination Against Women
| 1 | Action on Smoking and
Health, Washington, United
States |
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Action on Smoking and Health
Action on Smoking and Health. ASH, 1250 Connecticut Ave, NW, 7th Fl, Washington, D.C. 20036 (202) 659 - 4310, United States
Action on Smoking and Health. ASH, 1250 Connecticut Ave, NW, 7th Fl, Washington, D.C. 20036 (202) 659 - 4310, United States
Publication date: 2020-03-19
Tob. Induc. Dis. 2020;18(March):19
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
Co-signing organisations: Comité National Contre le Tabagisme, European Cancer Patient Coalition, Fiji Cancer Society, Global Bridges, Healis Sekhsaria Institute of Public Health, Indian Cancer Society- Delhi, International Alliance of Women, Japan Health Care Dental Association, Japan Society for Tobacco Control, Japanese Society of Cancer Nursing, OxySuisse, Pratyasha Anti-drugs Club, PROGGA, Public Health Law Center, Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance, Society for Oral Cancer and Health, Swarna Hansa Foundation, Tobacco-Free Advocacy Japan, Tobacco - Free Association of Zambia, Policy Research for Development Alternatives
Editorial Note:
ASH US has been working with partners around the world to use human rights measures to advance tobacco control. While the WHO FCTC does not have a robust reporting and enforcement mechanism, many human rights treaties do, and often, the subject matter of those treaties overlaps with the goals of tobacco control. For example, ASH US and partners recently submitted a report on tobacco and its negative impact on the rights of women and girls in Japan to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). This committee can use that report to question the Japanese government and encourage them take steps to better protect their citizens from tobacco. If the government fails to protect their citizens from the tobacco industry, they will fail to live up to their obligations under international human rights law.
ABSTRACT
Japan has made progress on tobacco control in recent years. However, every
year more than 157800 Japanese citizens1 and residents die from tobacco related
diseases. Tobacco is a leading cause of preventable death and is therefore a
considerable obstacle to the right to health of Japanese citizens. Tobacco is a
human rights and women’s and girls’ rights issue and should be considered as
part of the government’s human rights obligations. Tobacco, and the actions of
the tobacco industry, prevents the women and girls of Japan from enjoying the
highest attainable standard of health.
FUNDING
There was no source of funding for this research.
PROVENANCE AND PEER REVIEW
Commissioned; internally peer reviewed.
Related articles
