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 | | Tuesday, 19 March, 2002, 15:51 GMT WHO offers help to sue tobacco firms  Legal action has been launched against tobacco companies Countries which want to take tobacco giants to court over the death and injury toll of cigarettes can now get advice from the World Health Organisation (WHO). The WHO is offering its expertise to encourage more states to take legal action. It will offer technical assistance, document analysis and help gather evidence from other countries. The body will even consider supporting international litigation against tobacco companies, it said. There have already been successful cases in the US and India. The new proactive approach to suing tobacco companies accompanies the launch of "Towards Health with Justice", a report which encourages greater use of the courts. Litigation, said the WHO, could "change the behaviour" of tobacco companies, as well as yielding compensation for those made ill by tobacco use. Heavy toll The WHO says that tobacco-related disease kills eight people every minute - and that 10m people will be dying every year by 2030. Douglas Blanke, the report's author: "Litigation is not for everyone.
At present, governments rely principally on taxation, advertising bans and public health messages to restrict the growth of smoking. Derek Yach, the WHO's executive director of non-communicable diseases, said: "Progress has been thwarted by a tobacco industry seeking new and younger tobacco users. "Tobacco industry tactics constitute the single greatest hurdle on the road to tobacco control." Treaty negotiations The WHO is pushing for a tough international treaty on tobacco control, with restrictions on marketing, advertising and sponsorship. The 191 members of the organisation will debate the issue until the end of the week, and the treaty itself is expected to be completed by May 2003. | | See also:  Internet links: The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites Top Health stories now:  Links to more Health stories are at the foot of the page. | ||||||||||||||||||
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