Abuja Declaration

This communiqué was issued at the end of the Africa regional strategy workshop on tobacco control organized by FCA in Abuja from september 4 to 6, 2008.

We, participants at  the African regional workshop on tobacco control, under the aegis of the Framework Convention Alliance (FCA) held in Abuja, Nigeria from the 4th - 6^th September 2008; 

Alarmed by the spread of tobacco epidemic in Africa and its devastating effects on health, environment, economy and society

Concerned about the frightening prospects of the increased smoking trends among youth and women

Recognising the keen interest of the tobacco industry in the African region for profit other health because of an ever increasing youthful population that represents its main target

Acknowledging the switch of the marketing strategies of the tobacco industry from the more informed regions of the world to the African continent

Aware of the lack of anti-tobacco laws to stem the tide and protect the population in many African countries

Mindful of the disparity amongst African countries in capacity to fight the tobacco industry and to conduct tobacco control

Recognising the great opportunity of the third WHO-FCTC Conference Of Parties that will take place in Durban South-Africa from 17^th to 22^nd of November 2008,

Have agreed as follows:

To work in unity and synergy towards a Tobacco Free Africa

To bring on board all stakeholders (excluding the tobacco industry) into our African Tobacco Control Alliance (ATCA)  that would stand as an African shield against the tobacco industry.

That the Conference of the Parties holding in Durban South Africa adopt the strongest possible guidelines on Articles 11, 13 and 5.3.

That all African governments, who have not ratified the FCTC  do so immediately and that those who have ratified the treaty hasten actions to domesticate  the treaty as any waste of time is recipe for avoidable suffering and tobacco-related deaths.

Done in Abuja, Nigeria on the 6^th of September 2008.