WHO Double Standard Condemned

CAPHRA says the WHO’s exclusionary approach undermines the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), which systematically bars consumer advocates from its closed-door Conference of Parties (COP) meetings.

Nancy Loucas, CAPHRA’s Executive Coordinator, commented: “The WHO's hypocrisy is staggering: it attacks critics as purveyors of 'misinformation' while allowing private donors like the Gates Foundation and Bloomberg Philanthropies to steer its agenda.” 

CAPHRA continued by pointing to research conducted by Euronews which confirmed the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is WHO's second-largest donor, contributing 12% of its total budget. Meanwhile, Bloomberg Philanthropies has funded anti-harm reduction campaigns in Asia-Pacific nations, including the Philippines and India. 

The consumer body says FCTC COP meetings operate under unprecedented secrecy compared to other UN conventions. 

“No consumer group representing smokers or ex-smokers has ever been granted observer status, violating the WHO's own guidelines for civil society engagement. A 2023 WHO Western Pacific Office report emphasised that ‘meaningful engagement of civil society’ is critical to tobacco control—a principle ignored by the FCTC.”

Internal documents reveal the FCTC Secretariat controls all COP agendas and materials, with Bloomberg-funded NGOs often drafting policy recommendations for low-income countries. CAPHRA believes this creates an echo chamber that excludes scientific evidence supporting safer nicotine alternatives.

“When billionaires dictate policy while the WHO silences consumer voices, public health becomes secondary to ideology,” Loucas continued.

“The FCTC's failure is undeniable—global smoking rates remain unchanged since 2000, with 1.1 billion smokers worldwide. We demand the WHO FCTC grant observer status to consumer groups at COP11, host open consultations with civil society during proceedings, and implement UN human rights oversight for tobacco control policies. Accountability and inclusion are non-negotiable. The WHO must prioritise science over dogma to save lives.”

The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Advocates is a regional alliance of consumer tobacco harm reduction advocacy organisations. It says it is not related to, or funded by any commercial interests. It is composed of volunteer consumer advocates from the Asia Pacific Region.

“We hope putting forward this information would clarify any doubt as to our interests and intentions,” it adds. 

“CAPHRA stays committed to its mission to educate, advocate and represent the right of adult alternative nicotine consumers to access and use of products that reduce harm from tobacco use.  We advocate for the rights of consumers in the Asia-Pacific region to access and use evidence-based, regulated, and properly marketed harm reduction products as a means of reducing the devastating impact of smoking-related diseases.”

References:

• Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates - https://caphraorg.net/
• https://www.caphraorg.net/wp-content/uploads/pdfs/2025-response_to_UNSR_THR-final.pdf 

Dave Cross

Journalist at POTV

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Dave is a freelance writer; with articles on music, motorbikes, football, pop-science, vaping and tobacco harm reduction in Sounds, Melody Maker, UBG, AWoL, Bike, When Saturday Comes, Vape News Magazine, and syndicated across the Johnston Press group. He was published in an anthology of “Greatest Football Writing”, but still believes this was a mistake. Dave contributes sketches to comedy shows and used to co-host a radio sketch show. He’s worked with numerous start-ups to develop content for their websites.