Tobacco control advocacy is needed because globally more than 8 million deaths are attributed to tobacco use annually, this includes smoked and chewing tobacco use, along with second-hand exposure to tobacco.
HCC/PAHO/UWI launched the following Tobacco Control Publications as a contribution to the acceleration of member state action towards A Smoke-free Caribbean.
The Healthy Caribbean Coalition developed this portal to monitor tobacco use among Caribbean adolescents and tobacco control policies and campaigns that protect youth. This site also provides resources for youth advocates who want to fight back against the tobacco industry.
What percentage of youth are using tobacco in the Caribbean?
- According to the Report on Tobacco Control in the Region of the Americas (2018) Caribbean countries have the highest levels of tobacco experimentation before the age of 10.
- Among the Americas, the Caribbean has the second highest prevalence of current tobacco use at 14.4%, above the regional average of 11.5%.
- According to the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) Trinidad and Tobago has the highest rates of e-cigarette use at 17.2%.
Visit the Youth Tobacco Advocacy Portal to find out more here.
Prevent20 is a global coalition of cancer groups calling on governments to raise tobacco taxes, the single most effective tobacco control intervention. The movement’s name is in recognition of the more than 20% of all cancer deaths that are attributable to tobacco use – and completely avoidable.
It promotes tobacco taxes as a powerful solution for large-scale tobacco use prevention. It educates and activates cancer advocates to persuade their country governments to take up smart tax policy as a critical cancer prevention tool. Read more
Civil Society Led Tobacco Control Advocacy in the Caribbean: Experiences from The Jamaica Coalition for Tobacco Control.
This report documents best practices of the Jamaica Coalition for Tobacco Control (JCTC) and other Caribbean CSOs in the implementation of tobacco control measures within the region. The report explores examples of effective advocacy strategies that have withstood the constant pressure of the tobacco industry and have created stepping stones for action in countries where there is a lack of political will. Successes recorded here are in countries where governments displayed strong political will for tobacco control and which collaborated with key stakeholders, including CSOs, to achieve FCTC objectives. Read more