Turning a New Leaf: Women, Tobacco, and the Future

As a response to the trend of a worldwide increase in women's tobacco use, this report provides a picture of women's tobacco use in different social contexts, identifies the health risks, and describes women's role in tobacco production and marketing. According to the report, policymakers are trying to reverse this trend by addressing gender-specific tobacco control strategies.

Chapter 1 examines trends in tobacco use among women in various countries and the present context for reduction established by the first international global public health treaty, the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). The FCTC addresses the need for comprehensive tobacco control policies and for progressive as well as equity-seeking social and economic policies. It addresses women's issues specifically in its gender-related policy language due in part to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).

Chapter two summarises existing knowledge about women's health as impacted by tobacco use.

Chapter three examines production and promotion of tobacco from the field to the consumer.

Chapter four and five offer direction for future action on policy, research, and advocacy, in the context of the CEDAW and FCTC agreements offering opportunities for women's equality in health and for regulation of tobacco products.

Some communication-related provisions of the CEDAW agreement are:

• the collection of accurate information on tobacco use among women;
• gender-sensitive education, training, and public awareness on tobacco and public health; and
• gender-specific protection from exposure to tobacco smoke as well as from misinformation on tobacco and health from advertising, promotion and sponsorship.

Communication-related provisions of the FCTC agreement include:

• labelling and packaging requirements for tobacco products;
• a comprehensive ban on tobacco advertising promotion and sponsorship; and
• processes for further legal provisions addressing illicit trade; cross-border advertising, promotion and sponsorship; duty-free sales; and industry liability.

Other communication-related efforts to address the problem include:

• culturally relevant education both for prevention and risk reduction including pregnancy, teens, and certain ethnic groups with higher risk;
• cessation programmes;
• tracking workplace conditions in tobacco production;
• community- and home-based information and education interventions, especially those for female production, manufacturing, and marketing workers; and
• change through citizen advocacy and governmental policy groups.

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