Are diplomats promoting tobacco over public health?

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Diplomats may be contravening international regulations aimed at protecting public health from tobacco industry interference, according to new research published in Frontiers in Public Health.

Analysis by TCRG researchers, led by Dr. Raouf Alebshehy, reviewed instances of diplomats promoting tobacco companies. The diplomats were all from high income countries and the vast majority of actions were in low- and middle-income countries.

In the main case study presented, a UK diplomat engaged with the tobacco industry in the opening of a new cigarette factory in the Middle East. The guidance from the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office explicitly says that diplomats should not do this.

Read the full TCRG news story here

Read the paper:

Alebshehy, K. Silver, P. Chamberlain, A “willingness to be orchestrated”: Why are UK diplomats working with tobacco companies?, Frontiers in Public Health, 17 March 2023,
Sec. Public Health Policy, Volume 11 – 2023, doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.977713

See also the Guardian newspaper article: UK ambassador to Yemen took part in opening of Jordanian cigarette factory, 19 March 2023

Previous cases of UK diplomats supporting the interests of tobacco companies are detailed on TobaccoTactics:

See also:

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