Islamset - Enabling Education about Tobacco: Working group repot, Preamable, Long-term Goals, Short-term activities For all NGOs, INGCAT Declaration , World No Tobacco Day.

Proceedings INGCAT International
NGO MObilisation Meeting
Geneva, 15-16 May, 1999.

Enabling Education about Tobacco
David Simpson
Director, International Agency on Tobacco and Health

A vital component of any effective tobacco control policy is education. In the context of this workshop, the term is being defined in its widest sense, to cover the twin topics of public education campaigns, and public information work.

Public education denotes research-led, pre-tested education programmes aimed at specific target groups, for example school children of various ages, young adults, or women smoker. By contrast, public information describes the production and dissemination of a continuous flow of accurate and topical tobacco control information, and quickly responding to any opportunity to information, and quickly responding to any opportunity to inform the general public or special target groups (such as politicians), via the news media. Public education is a specialist area, and in most countries it is carried out either directly by officials within the health ministry, or by state health promotion organisation. In some countries well-.established medical charities also run their own public education programmes. Although time will be limited, the working group will look at the main objectives of public education programmes about tobacco, and the steps necessary (though not always undertaken!) to ensure that it achieves maximum effect.

Public information programmes will then be discussed including their main objectives and characteristics, in particular some of the techniques for using every available opportunity to get the health message across to target audiences. Some typical public information activities will be discussed, including how to make the most of aspects of tobacco control, which are of special interest to journalists.

Working group repot David Simpson, facilitator NGOs: International Baccalaureate School, International Federation of NGOs for the Prevention of Drug and Substance, World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, World Council of Churches .

Preambel:
Education should not only focus on cessation but should include every aspect of tobacco control so that government do not see cessation as an easy way out.

Long-term goals:
· Education should work towards reaching or maintaining non smoking as the accepted standard. · Education and informational messages should include explanations of the tobacco industry's roles and tactics.

Short-term activities:
For all NGOs:

As a code of practice, NGOs will not accept tobacco money to finance their programmes or activities.
To produce and educational document outlining the various tactics employed by the tobacco industry and to seek WHO's endorsement.
Always looking for opportunities to work with other NGOs on tobacco.
To introduce the topic of tobacco at board meeting/to get tobacco on the agenda before the end of 1999.
To deal with the topic of tobacco in NGOs newsletters in 1999/2000.
To make conferences smoke free events.
To sign the INGCAT Declaration on Growing up Without Tobacco in 1999/2000. International Federation Baccalaureate Schools
In collaboration with WHO and the US CDC, the IBS will sponsor research project on "Effectiveness of Health Education" which will include tobacco. International Federation of NGOs against Drug Abuse (IFNGO)
The next IFNGO/ASEAN NGOs Conference will have anti-tobacco as its theme.
Malaysian school to embark on the "Just 5minutes" programme as an anti tobacco campaign. International Union against Tuberculosis and Lug Disease · A survey of all constituent members as to current and planned activities in tobacco control, and encouragement to become more involved by joining or creating national tobacco control coalitions. World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts
The Girl Guides will work to establish smoke free events.
They will make a survey of members about existing or planned tobacco programmes/activities.
Participation World No Tobacco Day. World Council of Chruches (WCC)
The World Council of Churches Conference in 2000, entitled "Addiction and the Church's responsibility" will include tobacco as a topic.
WCC will embark on a project of "Tobacco Free Sunday" .