SEATCA

Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance

Tobacco Control Champion Awards

Honoring ASEAN leaders and governments for excellence in public health and FCTC implementation.

The Tobacco Control Champion Award is given to governments and individuals in ASEAN that have demonstrated outstanding leadership and commitment in advancing tobacco control. The award highlights efforts that protect public health, implement and enforce the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), prevent tobacco-related harm, and reduce exposure to tobacco industry interference.

The award serves both as a symbol of excellence in tobacco control and as an inspiration for continued advocacy across the region.

Criteria

  • Only government entities may receive the award, individuals representing the government are also eligible.
  • Awards are given for best practices in evidence-based FCTC implementation.
  • The time frame for this award covers the period from the last FCTC Scorecard.
  • If no candidate adequately fulfills the requirements for a specific Article, the award for that Article will not be conferred.

1

Only government entities may receive the award, individuals representing the government are also eligible.

2

Awards are given for best practices in evidence-based FCTC implementation.

3

The time frame for this award covers the period from the last FCTC Scorecard.

4

If no candidate adequately fulfills the requirements for a specific Article, the award for that Article will not be conferred.

Article 5.3 – Protection from Tobacco Industry Interference

Recognizes governments that actively protect public health policies from tobacco industry interference, including disguised donations and CSR.

2024

The Ministry of Public Health, Kingdom of Thailand

for its firm defense of the ban on electronic smoking devices to protect the youth and prevent another epidemic of nicotine addiction.

2022

Department of Health, Republic of the Philippines

for reiterating its commitment to implement Article 5.3 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and rejecting tobacco industry interference disguised as charitable donations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Article 8 – Protection from Exposure to Tobacco Smoke

Recognizes governments implementing smoke-free environments to protect public health.

2024

The Ministry of Tourism, Kingdom of Cambodia

for championing smoke-free policies in the tourism sector across cities in Cambodia

2022

Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology - Hilmar Farid, PhD

for taking the initiative, as Director General of Culture of Indonesia’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology, to issue a circular declaring all Indonesian heritage sites smoke-free and providing specific instructions for the implementation of this policy in line with Article 8 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control

Smoke-Free Heritage Sites & Cities Alliance (SHA), Indonesia

for promoting smoke-free tourism by implementing a comprehensive smoke-free policy within Indonesia’s heritage sites in line with Article 8 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control

Articles 11 & 13 – Standardized Tobacco Packaging & Denormalization

Recognizes governments implementing standardized packaging and health warnings to reduce tobacco appeal.

2024

The Ministry of Public Health, Kingdom of Thailand

for denormalizing tobacco products and discouraging their use through implementation of standardized tobacco packaging in line with Articles 11 and 13 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control

2022

Ministry of Health, Republic of Singapore

for denormalizing tobacco products and discouraging their use through implementation of standardized tobacco packaging in line with Articles 11 and 13 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control

Article 13 – Ban on Tobacco-related CSR in Educational Facilities

Recognizes governments preventing tobacco industry influence in schools.

2022

National Authority for Combating Drugs, Kingdom of Cambodia

for banning heated tobacco products to protect Cambodia’s youth and prevent a new generation from becoming addicted, in line with Article 16 the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control

Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, Kingdom of Cambodia

for implementing a ban on tobacco-related CSR in educational facilities throughout the Kingdom of Cambodia, pursuant to Article 13 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control