The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids is reminding everyone that today, Friday 15 January 2010 is the last day for nominations for the 2010 Judy Wilkenfeld Award for International Tobacco Control Excellence.

When Judy Wilkenfeld died on May 24, 2007, the world lost an incomparable advocate of tobacco control. Judy worked tirelessly to reduce tobacco’s toll for more than 20 years, first as a public official and then as a leader of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids international efforts. Among her many accomplishments, Judy played an integral role in the development and adoption of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and the emergence of the Framework Convention Alliance.

Her expertise and devotion forever changed the world of tobacco control. But Judy’s true impact extends far beyond her professional achievements. Judy was unique in the way she respectfully treated colleagues, and in the way she brought them together. Judy touched favorably upon the lives of all who knew her, and served as a role model to many.

In Judy’s honor, the Campaign established the Judy Wilkenfeld Award for International Tobacco Control Excellence, which is given annually to an advocate from a low- or middle-income country who has worked to significantly reduce tobacco use through policy advocacy and exemplifies the traits for which Judy was known.

Like Judy, the winner of the award will exemplify the following traits:
• Exhibits utmost respect in honoring the diversity of the tobacco control community;
• Works to build consensus and bring people together;
• Serves as a mentor and/or role model for others in the movement;
• Has an established record of achievement; and
• Demonstrates the potential to be an even more significant future leader.

Rachel Kitonyo of Kenya, our recipient in 2009, is one such exemplary advocate. Rachel established the Institute for Legislative Affairs (ILA) and currently serves as its Executive Director. The ILA strengthened the stalled Kenyan tobacco control bill and successfully guided it through the Parliamentary approval process. In 2007 the bill became Kenya’s Tobacco Control Act, giving Kenya one of the strongest tobacco-control laws in Africa. Under her leadership in 2006, ILA became the host for KETCA, a new umbrella coalition for non-profit organizations working in tobacco control in Kenya. Rachel is also making a regional impact on African tobacco control. Amongst other things, she has helped to draft a constitution for the newly-formed African Tobacco Control Alliance (ATCA) and is currently serving as its chairperson.

Laura Salgado of Honduras, our inaugural recipient in 2008, is another outstanding activist. Already an accomplished tobacco-control advocate, Laura has continued to make an impact since receiving the Judy Wilkenfeld Award. Most significantly, Laura worked closely on campaigns that improved compliance with the FCTC throughout Latin America, and that led three new countries to become parties to the Framework Convention in 2008: Nicaragua and Colombia in April, and Costa Rica in August.

The Judy Wilkenfeld award will be presented at the Campaign’s annual Youth Advocates of the Year Awards Gala, which will be held on Wednesday, May 12, 2010. The awardee will be flown to Washington DC for the event, and will receive a monetary award as a part of this honor.

We at the Campaign are blessed to have worked with Judy, and we are delighted to offer this award in her honor to recognize and support other promising advocates. Please reference the following information for details about the submissions procedure.

How to Submit Nominations

To submit a nominee for the Judy Wilkenfeld Award for International Tobacco Control Excellence, please complete the attached nomination form. Each nomination should also be accompanied by letters from three additional individuals endorsing the nomination and explaining why the nominee should be selected. All nominations and supporting materials must be in English. Nominations should be submitted by mail to:

Judy Wilkenfeld Award Committee
Campaign for Tobacco Free-Kids
1400 Eye Street, NW, Suite 1200
Washington, DC 20005, USA

Or by e-mail to: JudyWilkenfeldAward@tobaccofreekids.org.

Deadline: All application material must be received no later than Friday, January 15th, 2010, including nomination form and letters of endorsement.

For more information, please visit: www.tobaccofreekids.org or www.tobaccofreecenter.org.