Canadian Civil Society Participation at the Second Conference of the Parties (COP2) of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC)

Introduction

Canadian NGOs have sent representatives to all FCTC negotiating meetings (INBs), to Open-Ended Intergovernmental Working Groups and to the first meeting of the FCTC Conference of the Parties. They have played a major role within the Framework Convention Alliance, in making the case for certain points that were eventually included in the FCTC (such as package warnings), and in providing an important channel of communications between the Canadian official delegation and the international NGO community. In 2006 and again in 2007, Canadian NGOs produced a shadow monitoring report on Canadian implementation of the FCTC. This is a useful complement to the official Canadian report, and provides a model for NGO coalitions in other countries who wish to produce similar reports.

Three Canadian civil society representatives were available to play an important role in the upcoming COP, but did not have funding to attend the meetings. Through this small project, they were able to do.

Objectives

The overall purpose of this contract was to enable the participation of the three delegates noted above in the COP-2, thereby ensuring Canadian civil society presence and leadership at the meetings, and the documentation of lessons learned in terms of how to maximize the positive impact of Canadian NGO delegates in the future and how to facilitate fruitful exchanges between the Canadian official delegation and NGO representatives from around the world.

Results & Impact

Michael DeRosenroll, delegate for the International Union Against Cancer (UICC) - Attended COP2 plenary meetings, committee meetings, working group meetings, regional meetings (Region of the Americas and others), World Health Organization (WHO) technical briefings, FCA issue briefings, the NGO forum and informal gatherings/receptions. Made a presentation at the FCA issue briefing on NGO shadow reporting. 3. Participated in meetings of delegates from FCA member organizations. Met informally with delegates to COP2, both from the NGO community and official government delegations, to discuss the issues on the agenda, exchange information, and communicate the views of the CCS on the various issues on the agenda. Contributed to the production of the FCA Bulletin, a daily newsletter produced by the FCA during the COP to communicate the FCA’s positions on the various issues to all delegates. Provided a summary report on the value of shadow reports.

David Hammond, assistant professor at the University of Waterloo – made a number of presentations on the issue of product labeling and held many discussions on the issue.

Francis Thompson, Non-Smokers’ Rights Association - responsible for editing the Framework Convention Alliance’s daily bulletin. Gave a presentation on progress on second-hand smoke issues in Canada.

For more details on these and other results, please see the final report.

Lessons Learned

• Lesson #1: Pre-COP meetings between COD and Canadian NGO delegates are useful
• Lesson #2: Communication between COD and NGO delegates during the COP could be improved.
• Lesson #3: The COD needs to hear the voices of more than just the FCA in order to hear the voices and priorities of the developing world.
• Lesson #4: Providing an opportunity for Canadian civil society representatives to attend the COP meetings greatly facilitates the ability of Canada to continue to provide leadership in tobacco control.
• Lesson #5 Providing ongoing opportunities for civil society representatives to publicly participate in FCA activities continues to have great relevance

Recommendations

None noted.