Supporting the implementation of the WHO Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC)

Aim

The project aims to improve public health through strengthening the Togolese Tobacco Control Law. The main objective is to achieve the integration of a 100% smoke-free policy and graphic pictorial health warning in the law in line with the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).

Landscape

ANCE-Togo (Transparency International Chapter in Togo) has been working on monitoring policies in the field of public health, particularly with regard to corruption in the development and implementation of laws relating to public health, for nearly ten years now. Currently, ANCE-Togo is actively supporting the Ministry of Health (MOH) in the implementation of the Togolese Tobacco Control Law. The law stipulates that financial and technical support is given to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (CTFK). Next to the MOH, other partners are the WHO country office and The Togolese Journalists Network for Tobacco Control (REJAT-Togo) which is a network of 16 affiliated media organisations that have been closely collaborating with ANCE-Togo for three years now to promote FCTC domestication in Togo. This network has high expertise in communication.

Activities

1. Follow up with the government's Permanent Secretary to organise an internal review of the draft amendment
   Policy review
2. Continued advocacy and follow-up efforts with the aim to put the adoption of the amendment and the financial and technical support to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids on the agenda of the government
   Advocacy
3. Monitoring and evaluation of the adoption and implementation of the amendment by the Minister’s Council
   Monitoring & evaluation
4. Organise interactive activities with MPs to train them to support the review and the final adoption of the amendment
   Strategic working groups & Collaboration
5. Strategic use of the media to support the adoption of the proposed amendment
   Media campaign

Achievements

1. Thanks to the financial support for the Campaign for Tobacco Free-Kids (CTFK) based in USA, we were able to successfully campaign for the ratification of the FCTC and advocate for the adoption of the national tobacco control law and its implementation decrees and executive orders. Due to our work, the following laws and decrees were adopted:  Togo’s tobacco control law, Law No. 2010-017 from December 31, 2010 Concerning the Production, Sale and Consumption of Tobacco and its Derivative Products;  Decree No. 2012-072 Concerning the Prohibition of Advertising, Promotion and Sponsorship of Tobacco and its Derivative Products in Togo, which prohibits all domestic and cross-border engagement in tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship;  Decree No. 2012 – 047 Concerning modalities for the implementation of rules concerning packaging and labelling of tobacco and its derivative products Additionally, the Ministry of Health issued four administrative orders in August 2013, including the following: Administrative Order No. 137/2013 of August 20, 2013 Determining the Procedures for the Printing and Formatting of the Borders of Health Warnings and Other Specifications and others.
2. A strong anti-tobacco policy has been adopted: This policy analysed tobacco industry risks and set up strong counter-actions
3. The Ministry of Health developed and implemented a strong action plan for transparency and accountability due to which more than 50 public servants were arrested and put in prison for corruption
4. Stronger law enforcement

Lessons Learnt

• Many challenges were faced: Some government officials were corrupted by the tobacco industry which delayed the adoption of the decree on the application of the plain packaging