All News

19. July 2024

Alternatives from seedbed to tobacco barn

In Brazil, smallholder farmers ensure diversity in their cultivation with traditional seeds and community organisation. In Zimbabwe, a biodiversity project contributes to income security - without tobacco.
31. May 2024

World No Tobacco Day 2024: Protect children, stop tobacco marketing!

Today, we remind policy makers and the public of the influence the tobacco industry exerts on children and young people. In Germany, we call for a law that protects children and young people from alcohol and nicotine marketing.
12. February 2024

Environmental hazard of disposable e-cigarettes: Time to act!

Environmental destruction in part of the supply chains of disposable e-cigarettes. We asked people in Bangladesh, Chile and Peru: What are your demands for your environment, your life, your future?
19. January 2024

Year in review 2023

Our commitment in 2023 for a change towards a tobacco-free world: Together with partners from all over the world for food instead of tobacco!
15. December 2023

Political interference and greenwashing – topical and alarming

The Tobacco Lobby Index 2023 once again shows how much influence the tobacco industry can exert on politics. At the German Conference for Tobacco Control on 6/7 December, we have put the tobacco industry's strategies under close scrutiny with a plenary session.
20. September 2023

Tobacco-free world: Bangladeshi farmers opt for a switch

In this video, farmers show their tobacco-free world in Bangladesh and explain how they managed to exit tobacco cultivation.
8. May 2023

World No Tobacco Day 2023: Planetary healthy food, not tobacco!

We offer a three-course meal on planetary health and tobacco control, featuring speakers from all over the world. Join us on 25th May, 3 pm (CEST).
9. March 2023

New video: What’s in disposable e-cigarettes?

What raw materials are in disposable e-cigarettes? We show the consequences of their sourcing for local people and the environment.
5. January 2023

Year in review 2022

Our commitment to Tobacco Control 2022: Together with partners in Germany and around the world for more environmental protection and children's rights
21. December 2022

Tobacco industry’s greenwashing: cleaning actions, green campaigns and environmental projects

The new 'Greenwashing' category on our World Map of Tobacco Industry Strategies shows several cases of how tobacco companies are greenwashing.
7. December 2022

Supply Chains: E-Cigarettes, HTPs and water pipes

Three factsheets written by Unfairtobacco and PowerShift show the supply chains of tobacco and nicotine products. Focus: lithium, copper and bauxite.
13. October 2022

UN Committee: Protect children from second-hand smoke, tobacco advertising and child labour

The Concluding Observations of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child: more tobacco control and an effective due diligence law.
1. September 2022

UN Committee on the Rights of the Child reviews Germany

The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child will review the implementation of children's rights in Germany on 5/6 September 2022. Unfairtobacco has accompanied the reporting process with a focus on tobacco control and supply chains.
9. May 2022

World No Tobacco Day 2022: Tobacco – a threat to the environment

We explain how the tobacco industry poisons soils and waterways, destroys forests and damages the climate. Prepare now for World No Tobacco Day 2022 with our material.
8. March 2022

New brochure: Women’s Rights and Tobacco Control

International Women’s Day 2022: Joined by 23 organisations, we publish our new brochure on women’s rights, sustainable development goals and tobacco control.
3. January 2022

Review of 2021

Our commitment to human rights and tobacco control in 2021: With the support of partners in Germany, Europe and the Global South, we have taken an in-depth look at the connection between tobacco control and women's rights.
8. September 2021

New Index 2021: Influence of Tobacco Industry on Government too big

The index published today reveals once again: the tobacco industry can exert a lot of influence on politics. Health organizations call for more transparency and restriction of interactions.
11. June 2021

World Day Against Child Labour: Quit tobacco cultivation

On World Day Against Child Labour, we renew our call to German policymakers to enforce children's rights at the beginning of the supply chain. We also appeal to the German government to support alternatives to tobacco cultivation.
26. May 2021

Commit to quit: Women have a Right to a Tobacco-free World

World No Tobacco Day 2021 - Press Release: Unfairtobacco, FACT e.V. and 16 organisations publish a factsheet highlighting how women's rights are violated by tobacco.
25. March 2021

Supply Chain Act: Also for the tobacco industry?

In March 2021, the German cabinet approved a draft supply chain law. We explain whether it is effective against child labour and environmental damages.
15. February 2021

Hearing at the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child

Unfairtobacco participated in the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child's digital hearing with civil society last week.
18. December 2020

Year in review 2020

Our commitment to human rights and tobacco control in 2020: With the support of partners from the Global South, we have been particularly committed to children's and women's rights and have come a step closer to our vision of a tobacco-free world.
10. December 2020

Tobacco industry violates human rights

On International Human Rights Day we present two short films from Indonesia and Zambia on human rights violations by the tobacco industry
17. November 2020

Tobacco companies undermine public health

A new index on the influence of the tobacco industry in Germany is published today. Conclusion: Tobacco companies in Germany prevent important measures to reduce tobacco consumption.
9. October 2020

Bangladesh: Of Clothes and Cigarettes

Online talk with Farida Akhter, human rights and tobacco control activist of UBINIG, Bangladesh. Wednesday, 28 October 2020. 9:30-10:30 a.m. (CET)
7. October 2020

No decent work on tobacco plantations in Bangladesh

World Day for Decent Work: Short films by our partner organisation UBINIG show exploitation of women and children in tobacco cultivation in Bangladesh
9. September 2020

222,222 demand a supply chain law

Initiative protests with more than 222,222 signatures at the Federal Chancellery - Cabinet debate on supply chain law postponed again
27. July 2020

Germany’s new tobacco advertising ban

A new law to extend the ban on tobacco advertising was long overdue, but has been blocked by the CDU/CSU in recent years. Now the parties have given up their resistance and agreed to a bill in the German parliament. The new law will come into force gradually from 2021.
28. May 2020

Students call on UN Committee: No Tobacco Anymore!

Students from Berlin submit their report to the UN Committee oin the Rights of the Child and show how and where children's rights are infringed by tobacco.
26. May 2020

Alliance demands: Implement Children‘s Rights, Boost Tobacco Control

Press release for World No Tobacco Day 2020: 19 civil society organisations working on public health, sustainable development and children's rights turn to the UN CRC and criticizes the impact of deficient tobacco control in Germany.
24. April 2020

False Friends: tobacco industry during Corona crisis

The tobacco industry uses the Coronavirus crisis to polish its reputation, strengthen contacts on political level and market its products.
9. April 2020

COVID-19: Stop smoking now!

Smoking leads to a higher risk for corona infection and disease (COVID-19). Read here why it is the right time to quit smoking.
19. February 2020

Young Professional Award goes to Laura Graen

Laura Graen, Founder of Unfairtobacco, receives the 1st Prize of the Young Professional Awards at European Conference on Tobacco or Health.

Children have a right to a tobacco-free world

At ECToH 2020, an alliance of 20 organisations publishes a brochure on children's rights and demands governments to strengthen tobacco control.
3. February 2020

Women need tobacco control

Tobacco violates women's rights. Thus Unfairtobacco and 9 other organisations jointly submitted a report to the CEDAW committee.
15. November 2019

Cigarette corporation blamed for child labour

British human rights lawyers bring a case against BAT and say that the corporation is responsible for child labour in its supply chain.
25. June 2019

Children have a Right to a Tobacco-free World

Our new factsheet shows how children's rights are violated by tobacco use and tobacco cultivation.
5. May 2019

Win a ticket to see Tom Hiddleston in Betrayal on May 27th!

What you can win: A ticket to see Tom Hiddleston, Charly Cox and Zawe Ashton in Betrayal at the Harold Pinter Theatre in London on 27 May 2019. The show is sold out and the ticket is worth more than £100.
25. January 2019

Cigarettes endanger forests

Our new factsheet shows how tobacco growing, cigarette manufacturing and cigarette butts are affecting forests worldwide.
17. December 2018

Price of Tobacco: Ruined Nature

What does tobacco do to the environment? A new study shows: deforestation, pesticides in the soil, nicotine in waters. Read here how tobacco ruins our nature.
12. November 2018

Unfairtobacco shortlisted for EU Health Award

We feel very honoured to have been nominated for the EU Health Award 2018 by the EU Commission. Today, we participated in the award ceremony in Brussels, together with ten other organisations.
31. October 2018

Open letter to ILO Governing Body

Today, more than 110 civil society organisations request the ILO Governing Body to no longer accept funding from tobacco industry. Read their open letter here.
29. September 2018

Poison for waterbodies: nicotine and pesticides

Our new factsheet shows the impact of tobacco growing, cigarette manufacturing and cigarette butts on water, waterbodies and oceans.
25. August 2018

Documentary: Cigarette butts are toxic waste

A German documentary shows: Cigarette butts not only harm the health of people, but also the health of the planet. Few people know, cigarette butts are hazardous, toxic waste. Unfairtobacco Director Sonja von Eichborn has been interviewed for this film.
11. July 2018

Is the tobacco industry highjacking the SDGs?

New analysis exposes how the tobacco industry uses the SDGs in a broad strategy to circumvent regulation. The paper also discusses corporate engagement in the SDGs in general and features a case study on the finance sector.
25. May 2018

Cape Town Declaration on Human Rights and a Tobacco-free World

Governments have the duty, as well as the right, to protect their citizens from the tobacco industry because the continued production and marketing of tobacco products violates rights from seedbed to butts, including child labor, workers' rights and the human rights to health and life.
25. April 2018

Arbor Day

On Arbor Day we remember Wangari Maathai and show how tobacco affects the environment.
13. March 2018

ILO to break up with tobacco funds

The Governing Body of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) discusses for the third time about breaking ties with tobacco funds.
26. February 2018

Case Studies on Alternative Livelihoods to Tobacco

These short case studies take a closer look at alternatives to tobacco growing. Are they economically viable? Are they ecologically justifiable? Do they contribute to more social justice?
24. January 2018

Human Rights & Tobacco Control Conference 2018

The Human Rights and Tobacco Control Network (HRTCN) this year conducts a pre-conference to the 17th World Conference on Tobacco or Health in Cape Town, South Africa, to highlight the links between tobacco control and human rights. Register now.
11. December 2017

Secondhand smoke at work: 433,000 deaths

SDG-Factsheet No. 4 shows the health risks for workers inherent in secondhand smoke at workplaces and in working conditions in tobacco growing.
14. November 2017

Disappointing: ILO postpones decision

Disappointing: Governing Body of the ILO again decides to postpone its decision whether to cut tobacco ties.
26. October 2017

ILO amongst last UN Agencies accepting money from ‘Big Tobacco’

Press release of the Framework Convention Alliance: On 1 November 2017, delegates of the Governing Body of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) will be asked to vote to extend their partnership with the tobacco industry. This proposal comes despite recommendations from the UN Economic and Social Committee (ECOSOC).
16. October 2017

ILO asked to end conflict of interest

Press release: Responding to mounting pressure, the International Labour Organization (ILO) has to consider severing ties with the tobacco industry.
4. October 2017

Tobacco workers to ILO: Quit tobacco industry

In an open letter to members of the International Labour Organisation's Governing Body, tobacco workers demand that the ILO stops its cooperation with the tobacco industry.
14. September 2017

123 health groups to PMI: Stop selling cigarettes (press release)

123 organizations from around the globe publish an open letter to Philip Morris International (PMI) demanding that they immediately cease the production, marketing and sale of cigarettes.

Open Letter from 123 health groups to PMI

Open letter signed by 123 health groups demands that Philip Morris International stops selling cigarettes immediately.
7. September 2017

Tobacco and Education: SDG-Factsheet No. 3 published

On the occasion of the International Literacy Day, we publish our third SDG-Factsheet and focus on Sustainable Development Goal 4 ("Quality Education for All").
20. July 2017

PMI Leaks: The truth behind the “smokefree future”

While Philip Morris International (PMI) publicly offers the world a smokefree future the corporation works hard in secrecy to hinder public health policies.
1. June 2017

WHO Award for Unfairtobacco

In a ceremony at the European Parliament on 31st May, the World Health Organization (WHO) recognized our longtime work for sustainable development and tobacco control with a World No Tobacco Day Award 2017.
23. May 2017

Tobacco Production, Marketing Violate Basic Human Rights

Action on Smoking and Health and Unfairtobacco agree with the Danish Institute of Human Rights (DIHR) that Philip Morris International (PMI) should cease “the production and marketing of tobacco.”
12. May 2017

29th May 2017: Exhibition opens!

“Big Tobacco: Profits & Lies” at Vivantes Klinikum Neukölln, Berlin, Germany
3. May 2017

#QuitPMI: Tobacco Giant Befriends Human Rights Org

We urge the Danish Institute for Human Rights to quit its collaboration with PMI.
13. March 2017

The ILO must end ties with the tobacco industry

Bangkok, 10 March 2017: The Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (SEATCA) calls upon the International Labour Organization to end its ties with the tobacco industry.
23. December 2016

Review of 2016

Last year, we intensively worked on the impact of tobacco growing and tobacco use on a social, economic and ecological sustainablility. We showed how tobacco control can contribute to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
13. December 2016

Untapped resources: tobacco taxes

New paper shows: tobacco taxes can contribute to funding sustainable development.
24. November 2016

COP7: Progress for Growers and Environment

What are the outcomes of COP7 for tobacco growers and the environment?
11. November 2016

Food security, or tobacco only?

The New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition (NAFSN) in Malawi cooperates with tobacco companies, thus ignoring the country’s urgent necessity to move away from its dependence on tobacco exports.
3. November 2016

New: SDG-Factsheet No. 2

The FCTC has been strengthening the relations between different stakeholders – government institutions as well as non-governmental organisations.
2. November 2016

COP7 in India: we are attending

COP7 in India. Again, a representative of Unfairtobacco.org is on-site.
4. October 2016

Tobacco farmers as mouthpiece for industry

Tobacco growers’ association wants to have a say in tobacco control. But who does ITGA represent?
10. June 2016

Poor, hungry, addicted to tobacco

Our first SDG-Factsheet explains how poverty and hunger are linked to tobacco.
2. June 2016

… three, two, one …

On World NOt Tobacco Day 2016 a group of studnet from a Berlin primary school sent colorful balloons to the sky carrying messages of smoking prevention.
25. May 2016

Tobacco funded ITIC attacking SEATCA

Civil society organisations working in the area of tobacco control have shown since years the close links between ITIC and the tobacco industry.
21. April 2016

India’s fight for better health warnings

Large graphic health warnings must succeed in India – in spite of the tobacco industry’s determination to stop them.
13. April 2016

Malawi: tobacco auction started

Today, Wednesday 13th April 2016, the tobacco auction floors in Lilongwe, Malawi, have been opened for this year’s tobacco marketing season.
9. March 2016

Obsolete: the EU’s anti-smuggling agreements

The EU has agreements with cigarette companies to combat smuggling. Today, the EU Parliament decides whether to negotiate with PMI about a renewal of the agreement.
1. March 2016

A better world in 15 years means change of policy!

German civil society organisations ask Federal Government to change its policy for sustainability.
15. September 2015

MDGs to SDGs: progress or business as usual?

15 Years have gone by since the Millennium Summit. Ten days from today the UN Sustainable Development Summit will kick off. Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) shall be replaced by Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
14. April 2015

British diplomacy for cigarettes

The British high commissioner to Pakistan has come under fire: he attended a meeting between the cigarette company BAT and Pakistan ministers. Protest against his behaviour and sign the petition!
24. February 2014

Bali: Inter-tabac ASIA cancelled!

Just one week before the scheduled date, the police of Bali withdrawn the permission for the tobacco trade fair.
18. May 2012

Argentinian tobacco farmers sue tobacco companies

In the Misiones district, north-east-Argentina, tobacco companies asked farmers to use new seeds which require much more pesticides. But nobody explained them the risks.
30. March 2012

Report on the World Conference

The World Conference on Tobacco or Health has brought many new ideas, giving renewed impetus to the work of Unfairtobacco.org. The only drawback was that the conference declaration failed to make an important statement of solidarity towards tobacco farmers.
8. March 2012

International Women’s Day: tobacco and gender

What role does gender play when it comes to the consumption and control of tobacco? How is gender treated in both the tobacco industry and those who oppose its production and consumption?
20. February 2012

Alternatives to tobacco farming: meeting in Geneva

Unfairtobacco sent a representative to the third meeting of the WHO’s working group on sustainable alternatives to tobacco growing.