Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 11-12 May 2022, a training seminar "Tobacco-Free Future" for media representatives is being held in a hybrid format.

The purpose of the training seminar was to familiarize media representatives with the main provisions of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, the legislation of Uzbekistan, the best world practice in tobacco control, the threats of using new "innovative" tobacco and nicotine products.

The training seminar was organized as part of the Tobacco-Free Future! Public Foundation "Ibn Sino", funded by the Public Foundation for the Support of Non-Governmental Non-Profit Organizations and Other Civil Society Institutions under the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan "together with the Center for Retraining Journalists of Uzbekistan, the Yuksalish National Movement, the Center for Supporting a Healthy Lifestyle and Increasing Physical Activity of the Population of the Ministry health, the World Health Organization.

According to the WHO, tobacco kills more than 8 million people worldwide every year. More than 7 million of these deaths are from direct tobacco use and about 1.2 million are non-smokers exposed to second-hand smoke. 

On 21 December 2021, the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan adopted a new Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On Restricting the Distribution and Consumption of Alcoholic and Tobacco Products” and is currently being considered by the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The Senate’s approval of the Law concerns every inhabitant of our country, it will protect our children and young people from starting to use "innovative" tobacco and nicotine products, reduce the level of tobacco use among the population, reduce morbidity and premature mortality from non-communicable diseases, and protect the nation’s gene pool.

Participants of the seminar-training were provided with information on the following topics: 

- the epidemiological situation of tobacco use among the population of Uzbekistan and foreign countries;

- the results of public monitoring of compliance with the rules of anti-tobacco legislation on tobacco use in public places, the sale of tobacco products near (at a distance of less than 200 meters) educational institutions, advertising, promotion and sponsorship of tobacco products at points of sale, etc.);

- strengths and weaknesses of the current anti-tobacco legislation in Uzbekistan;

- the strategy and actions of the tobacco industry in response to the measures taken to reduce traditional tobacco products, the rapid growth among the youth of Uzbekistan of new so-called. "innovative" tobacco and nicotine products (heated tobacco products, electronic cigarettes, tobacco and nicotine snus, etc.) and measures taken;

- legislative regulation of the turnover of nasvay;

- measures taken by the Government of Uzbekistan to create conditions for effective public control in the sale of tobacco products in retail, catering and service facilities.

Based on the materials presented, the participants of the training seminar discussed the World Health Organization’s package of measures to combat the tobacco epidemic - MPOWER, as well as ongoing measures to reduce tobacco use in Uzbekistan, taking into account the best world experience. At the same time, special attention was paid to improving anti-tobacco legislation, promoting the new Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On Restricting the Distribution and Consumption of Alcohol and Tobacco Products”, in which media representatives are of particular importance.

In the practical part of the training seminar, participants discuss the search for reliable sources of information, the importance of preparing reliable information materials, the formats of materials published or broadcast in the media, counteracting fakes in the media and social networks. 

The results of the training seminar will help to improve the knowledge and skills of media representatives in the preparation and publication of relevant information materials, as well as the implementation of effective comprehensive anti-tobacco measures in Uzbekistan.

The seminar-training is attended by journalists, correspondents, representatives of public organizations, employees of the Center for Supporting a Healthy Lifestyle and Increasing Physical Activity of the Population and its territorial divisions.

At the end of the training seminar, a competition will be announced for journalists and bloggers for the best series of publications and broadcasts in the media. The results of the competition will be announced in November 2022.