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Indonesia chooses health over tobacco

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The 2nd Indonesian Conference on Tobacco or Health took place in Jakarta from 27 to 29 May. Attended by more than 500 public health practitioners, tobacco control advocates, researchers, policy makers, media and youth, the conference focused on the need to protect young people from tobacco use. The official conference declaration urgently called on Indonesia to accede to the WHO FCTC; increase the size of graphic health warnings on all tobacco packaging to at least 75%; ban tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship; and increase tobacco tax and prices. The conference was opened by Indonesia’s Minister of Health. It was jointly organised by the Indonesian Tobacco Control Network, Ministry of Health, and international partners, including The Union.

In Bali, an official declaration was made to ban tobacco advertising completely. Street rallies and a Walk for Health were held in public support of the declaration. In addition, a day-long seminar on tobacco control, organised by the provincial government, Udayana University and the Bali Tobacco Control Initiative, was attended by more than 200 participants.