WNTD 2010 celebration activities in Cambodia

 

During the World No Tobacco Day (WNTD 2010), CMH have engaged new partners for disseminating WNDT theme and advocated for comprehensive tobacco advertising ban. A series of orientation meetings with representatives from the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, the Ministry of Health, ADRA Cambodia, Women Development Association, lawyer group, and youth groups on the WNDT theme and how we can use this opportunity to advocate for advertising ban. After the orientation meetings, they are confident to speak these issues at the press conference, TV and radio talk-shows, as well as WNTD 2010 celebration. The one hour live talk-show at Radio FM95 was on 25 May. Ms. Chork Rany from ADRA Cambodia, Dr. Yel Daravuth from WHO Cambodia, and Attorney at Law Mr. Eang Sopheak talked about how tobacco industry target women, the guidelines for implementation of

FCTC’s article 13, how tobacco industry weakens advertising ban and the guidelines for implementation of FCTC’s article 5.3. The similar contents of the live talk-show were aired at Radio AM918 on 28th May. The speakers are, Ms. Khlok Peng Thol from the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Dr. Yel Daravuth from WHO Cambodia, and Attorney at Law Mr. Keo Sokea.

 

The most coverage television channel, TV Bayon supports the WNDT every year, and dedicated 90 minutes of its prime time for talk-show on WNDT on 27th May. Regarding the theme of WNTD 2010, Mrs. Chhay Kimsotheavy, from the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sport, has expressed her great concerns over tobacco advertisement targeting woman. Tobacco industry advertising campaigns has various forms, particularly large posters in public places, eye-catching packages, promotion concerts in provinces and mobilizing sellers. Without effective controls over these types of advertisement, most teenagers, especially women, are likely to become smokers. Dr. Mrs Ray Rany from the Ministry of Health added that since nearly half of world smokers have already die before life expectancy, tobacco industries consider women as the alternative target. Mrs. Khlok Pengthol from the Ministry of Women’s Affairs called for the comprehensive ban of all types of tobacco advertising to prevent nonsmokers, particularly teenagers, from becoming addicted smokers.

 

The Press Conference on WNTD 2010 was organized on 30th May. Her Excellency Im Sithe, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Her Excellency Ton Sa Im, Under-Secretary of State of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, and Attoney at Law Mr. Keo Sophea were the guest speakers at the live program. The two excellencies talked about how tobacco industry target women and what we should do to prevent our women from the marketing trap. Then Mr. Keo Sokea talked about how tobacco industry weakens the advertising ban and the guidelines for implementation of FCTC’s article 5.3. 5 televisions, 10 radio channels, and 8 newspapers broadcasted and published this press conference. Most televisions and radio re-broadcasted the conference two or three times. The World No Tobacco Day 2010 event was co-organized by the MoH, WHO Cambodia, CMH, and ADRA Cambodia. The WNTD 2010 Award ceremony to H.E Mrs. Men Sam An, Deputy Prime Minister of Cambodia was integrated into the event. CMH empowered Ms.

Soreach Sereithida, Director of Women Development Association to express women concerns on tobacco industry target women and asked for comprehensive tobacco advertising ban. Mr. Ly Pichey and Miss Soseang Sotheary, as youth representatives talked about tobacco industry misleads youth to take up smoking, and advocated for advertising ban. The Minister of Women’s Affairs requested the government of Cambodia to pass the draft Law on Tobacco Control, and asked the Ministry of Health to include the Ministry of Women’s Affairs to the review of the draft law to make the law benefits to both men and women. Before handling the WNTD 2010 Award, Dr. Pieter Van Maaren, WHO representative on Cambodia congratulated H.E Mrs Men Sam An, Deputy Prime Minister of Cambodia on the Award and urged the government of Cambodia to fully implement the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), particularly, the implementation of the FCTC’s article 13 by the deadline February 2011. As one of the recipients of the WNTD 2010 Award, The Deputy Prime Minister, H.E Mrs Men Sam An said that “I strongly support this year’s WNTD theme which alerts the world to take actions against tobacco industry marketing targeting women and youth. I commit to take any effective measures promoting health and reducing tobacco consumption, particularly among women and youth”. 6 televisions, 7 radio channels, and 8 newspapers broadcasted and published this press conference. Most televisions and radio rebroadcasted the conference two or three times.