Tobacco Harm Reduction and the right to health

Tobacco harm reduction and the right to health 9 People have to be at the centre of decisions about their health; they need choice and to exert control over their own wellbeing. Behaviour changes will originate in, and be sustained, only if they fit with what people both want and are able to do. 13 World Health Organization Constitution 1946: “The enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being without distinction of race, religion, political belief, economic or social condition.” European Social Charter 1965: “Everyone has the right to benefit from any measures enabling him to enjoy the highest possible standard of health attainable”. Article 11 requires states to take measures to prevent disease and to encourage individual responsibility in matters of health. The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, 1966: Article 12 recognizes “ the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health” and that States Parties must take steps regarding “the prevention, treatment and control of epidemic, endemic, occupational and other diseases.” Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion, 1986: Aims to build public policies which support health such that health promotion is an agenda item in all areas of government and organisational policy-making. ‘Any obstacles to health promotion should be removed with the aim of making healthy choices the easiest choice’. Millions of people smoke tobacco cigarettes every day in order to consume nicotine. There is now a range of ways to consume nicotine that are significantly safer. People who smoke tobacco have the same fundamental right to enjoy the highest attainable standard of health as non-smokers. People who smoke therefore have the right to access accurate information and products that help them achieve this. 13 Knowledge-Action-Change (KAC) (2018). No Fire, No Smoke: The Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction 2018 , p14. https://gsthr.org/report/full-report Image: Google

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