PURPOSE:The annual World No Tobacco Day campaign is an opportunity to raise awareness on the harmful and deadly effects of tobacco use. The Member States of the World Health Organization created World No Tobacco Day in 1987 to draw global attention to the tobacco epidemic and the preventable death and disease it causes. In 1987, the World Health Assembly passed Resolution WHA40.38, calling for 7 April 1988 to be a "a world no-smoking day." In 1988, Resolution WHA42.19 was passed, calling for the celebration of World No Tobacco Day, every year on 31 May. Make your pledge and Commit to Quit this World No Tobacco Day.

FORUM: “Protecting children from tobacco industry interference.’’ World No-Tobacco Day 2024. This theme of WNTD 2024 is focused on advocating for an end to the targeting of youth with harmful tobacco products. This discourse provides a platform for young people, policy-makers and tobacco control advocates globally to discuss the issue and to urge governments to adopt policies that shield young people from the manipulative practices of the tobacco and related industries. Although cigarette smoking has decreased over the years due to phenomenal efforts by the tobacco control community, more must be done to safeguard these vulnerable groups. According to 2022 data, worldwide, at least 37 million young people aged 13–15 years use some form of tobacco. In the WHO European Region, 11.5% of boys and 10.1% of girls aged 13–15 years are tobacco users (4 million). Why the tobacco industry is targeting youth? To keep making billions of dollars in revenues, the tobacco industry needs to replace the millions of customers who die and those who quit tobacco use every year. To achieve this goal, it works to create an environment that promotes uptake of its products among the next generation, including lax regulation to ensure its products are available and affordable. The industry also develops products and advertising tactics that appeal to children and adolescents, reaching them through social media and streaming platforms. Products such as electronic cigarettes and nicotine pouches are gaining popularity among youth. It is estimated that 12.5% of adolescents in the European Region used e-cigarettes in 2022 compared to 2% of adults. In some countries of the Region, the rates of e-cigarette use among school children are 2–3 times higher than the rates of cigarette smoking. The industry wilfully sells a deadly dependency to young people, therefore WNTD 2024 calls on the governments and tobacco control community to protect current and future generations and to hold the tobacco industry liable for the harm it causes. Follow the conversation with the hashtags: #WorldNoTobaccoDay; #31May; #TobaccoControl.

EVENTS: The World No-Tobacco Day 2024 will be observed during a plenary session at WHO Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland on May 31st. This year, once again, WHO and public health champions from across the globe will come together to raise awareness about the harmful influences of the tobacco industry on youth. We will also celebrate the anniversary of the adoption of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), the global public health treaty that serves as the world’s front-line defence against the tobacco epidemic. Adopted by the World Health Assembly in 2003, it became one of the most rapidly embraced treaties in United Nations history – now with 182 Parties, representing more than 90% of the world’s population. The Convention was the first treaty negotiated under the auspices of the World Health Organization (WHO), and in 2018 its first protocol – the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products – was adopted, further strengthening tobacco control.

STATEMENTS: Message from PAHO/WHO Regional Director; Dr Jarbas Barbosa, on World No Tobacco Day 2024; May 31st.

PODCASTS: The WHO today announces the global campaign and the 2024 World No Tobacco Day awards – the winners. The 2024 WNTD awards celebrate 6 exceptional people and organizations from the WHO European Region who are leading the fight back. From exposing deceptive marketing campaigns used to target youth (including through engaging social media influencers) to advocating for stricter regulations on e-cigarettes and nicotine products, these champions are making a significant difference. Listen to the audio-podcasts!

CAMPAIGN MATERIALS: Children are using e-cigarettes at rates higher than adults in all regions and globally an estimated 37 million youth aged 13–15 years use tobacco. Participate to the 2024 campaign “Protecting children from tobacco industry interference.’’ To prevent tobacco consumption, the WHO recommends that countries fully ban tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, including advertising CSR programmes, in accordance with the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC). Get the communication materials!