Remarks of the
United States Health and Human Services Secretary
Tommy G. Thompson
on the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control
World Health Assembly

May 21, 2003

This is an outstanding day when you can stand up and make a step forward for public health.

The reduction of illness, disability and death related to smoking is a key public health objective for the United States. We are keenly aware that smoking presents a real threat to public health. The imperative to act at home and abroad is clear.

Our domestic agenda to counter this threat is multifaceted.

We work hard to educate Americans about the dangers of smoking. We help provide access to anti-smoking resources. We conduct vigorous research on the effects of smoking, and internationally we have dedicated ourselves to support comprehensive global smoking prevention and control.

For example, to help monitor the global tobacco epidemic, the United States in collaboration with the WHO, developed the global youth tobacco survey, which now has been completed in 150 countries.

We have also worked with WHO and international sports organizations through our tobacco-free sports initiative to reduce or eliminate tobacco advertising and sponsorship for sporting events.

As part of the United States commitment to the negotiations of the convention and to facilitate understanding on one aspect of the framework, the United States hosted an international conference at the United Nations in New York to consider measures to address the global problem of illicit trade in tobacco. The treaty recognizes that.

It is no exaggeration to state that the United States is a world leader in anti-smoking efforts.

We have committed more resources than any other country to research, development and evaluation of smoking control programs both at home and abroad.

In addition, as part of our new prevention initiative "Steps to a Healthier US," my department will be providing millions of dollars to cities and communities across our nation to address important chronic diseases such as heart disease and stroke, cancer, asthma and obesity, and will address the risk factors including tobacco use.

Let me say that again: there can be no questioning the profound dedication of the United States to controlling the public health threat from smoking.

I am very proud of that, and we look forward to working with partners from around the world to prevent future death and disease through effective and sustainable global prevention and control efforts.

The global dialogue begun through the FCTC negotiations has been a significant step forward for public health. It is already bearing fruit, as countries start to adopt their own domestic measures to curb smoking.

The culmination of that work will, of course, be the adoption of a finished convention text - and that is why we are all here today - to adopt and celebrate the final FCTC document.

The United States is carefully reviewing the text of the convention that we adopted today. We and our outstanding partners worked hard on this treaty.

Together, we can and will make the global threat of smoking a thing of the past.