“ STOP LYING ”
Advocates are demanding the WHO change its anti-vaping rhetoric ahead of a crucial tobacco control summit later this year .
Words : Jordan Millar
The World Health Organization needs to ‘ stop lying ’ and acknowledge the ‘ basic human right ’ of harm reduction , say vaping advocates .
The Right2Switch campaign also called on the health body to build its regulations on the best available science , which it has so far ‘ wilfully and cynically ’ failed to do . It said it was vital that vapers the world over ‘ unite as one ’ and demand a change from the international health body .
“ The WHO continues to insist that safer nicotine products are as harmful and dangerous as combustible tobacco … this position is based on deliberate falsehoods , not facts ,” it said . “ This will put many smokers at risk and force the millions who have already successfully switched back to the very thing that will cause harm and eventually kill them .”
The petition featured several demands for the WHO to adopt before its COP9 tobacco control summit in November , including :
• Stop lying to us and only provide guidance based on sound scientific facts , methodology and principles
• Don ’ t use the COVID-19 pandemic as an excuse to disregard our rights to choose alternatives
• Stop interfering with the rights of adults to make informed choices regarding their health and well-being and
• Don ’ t ignore the basic human right to harm reduction that is one of the WHO ’ s founding principles .
The petition also urged the WHO to ‘ respect ’ and ‘ empower ’ smokers and vapers , instead of discriminating against them for exercising their freedom of choice . It said : “ As adults , we have every
right to choose how we live our lives and the right to make informed choices for our health .
“ We all need to be heard loudly and clearly by those who would rather not listen .
“ A solution to the world ’ s smoking problem is already here … we need to make the WHO hear us .”
“ A solution to the world ’ s smoking problem is already here … we need to make the WHO hear us .
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