At the 59th Session of the UN Human Rights Council, SERAC-Bangladesh joined 38 other civil society organizations in supporting a powerful joint submission led by Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), calling for the recognition of tobacco control as a human rights and development priority.
Tobacco is not just a health issue—it is a human rights issue. It undermines the right to health, a clean environment, child rights, women’s rights, and the right to development, particularly in low- and middle-income countries like Bangladesh.
In Bangladesh, the consequences of tobacco use are severe:
The poorest households spend nearly 10 times more on tobacco than on education.
Over 10.5 million malnourished Bangladeshis could have an adequate diet if tobacco expenses were redirected to food.
Tobacco directly blocks progress toward several Sustainable Development Goals, including:
SDG 1: No Poverty
SDG 2: Zero Hunger
SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
SDGs 6, 12, 14 & 15: Environmental Sustainability
From farming to waste, tobacco pollutes land and water, and cigarette filters contribute massively to plastic pollution—harming our ecosystems and health.
The joint submission urges UN Member States to:
✅ Recognize that tobacco industry actions conflict with the right to health
✅ Include cessation in Universal Health Coverage
✅ Address cigarette filter pollution in the global plastics treaty
✅ Report tobacco control progress in human rights reviews
✅ Protect vulnerable groups from targeted tobacco marketing
Tobacco use is disproportionately high among the poor, women, youth, and Indigenous peoples—a pattern driven by aggressive industry tactics. This makes tobacco control not only a health necessity but a moral obligation.
The HRC’s recognition of tobacco’s role in obstructing human rights marks a pivotal moment. SERAC-Bangladesh will continue advocating for a tobacco-free, healthier, and more just society.
📄 To read the full joint submission, click here:
https://ash.org