The global campaign will debunk myths and expose devious tactics employed by these industries. It will provide young people with the knowledge required to easily detect industry manipulation and equip them with the tools to rebuff such tactics, thereby empowering young people to stand up against them. This is especially important right now as studies show that smokers have a higher risk for a severe case of coronavirus. WHO calls on all young people to join the fight to become a tobacco-free generation.
Each year, the World Health Organization (WHO) sponsors World No Tobacco Day. The event serves to highlight the health risks associated with tobacco use and exposure by – advocating for effective policies to reduce tobacco consumption, decrease children’s exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS), and encourage cessation and tobacco control.
This year’s event will be held on May 31, 2020. The theme “Protecting youth from industry manipulation and preventing them from tobacco and nicotine use” focuses on empowering young people to engage in the fight against Big Tobacco.
Tobacco continues to be the leading cause of preventable death, killing more than eight million people across the global annually. About 1.2 million of these deaths are the result of non-smokers being exposed to SHS.
World No Tobacco Day is an opportunity to call on countries to work together to end the tobacco pandemic.
