The International Nongovernmental Coalition Against Tobacco (Ingcat)

he world is faced with a tobacco problem that goes beyond local and national tobacco control initiatives. The tobacco transnationals' global marketing strategies have so far been successful. Tobacco consumption throughout the world is high and in the developing world is rapidly increasing. There is a need for international NGOs, together with organizations on a national level, such as cancer leagues, health and lung associations, consumers groups, health promotion organizations, religious bodies, etc., to join together in national alliances to lobby for legislative measures to limit the spread of tobacco and reduce the power of tobacco interests in the political arena. In April 1995, a new international response to the international problem of tobacco was created: The International Non-governmental Coalition against Tobacco (Ingcat). Ingcat aims to enhance the credibility and legitimacy of tobacco control by presenting a cohesive and common front on specific issues, as well as facilitating the implementation of an international strategy for tobacco control. Ingcat has also been working to:

Promote liaison between all organizations actively involved in tobacco control and to facilitate information exchange
Promote collaborative efforts in various parts of the world, and to coordinate joint activities at national or international level
Develop agreed position statements which coalition members can use, as appropriate, to strengthen their case, such as to counter tobacco industry claims
Identify and alert members worldwide to opportunities for common actions, joint statements and collaborative action to have an impact on policy-makers and public opinion. For example, Ingcat can organize a letter-writing campaign from NGOs around the world in support of a country's proposed tobacco control legislation.
Stimulate international tobacco control action through individual support at grass roots level
Maintain a close working relationship with the United Nations organizations, particularly WHO
Continue active involvement with the Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to help further a ban of smoking on all international flights
Facilitate sharing of resource materials, particularly with NGOs of low income countries
Provide links to the media to get a tobacco control story covered

Organizations (both international and national) who are interested in joining Ingcat are invited to contact them for further information:

: INGCAT
: 68 boulevard Saint-Michel
: 75006 Paris
: France
: Tel: (33.1)44.32.03.70
: Fax:(33.1)43.29.90.87
: Karen Slama
: E-mail: kslama@worldnet.fr n

Smoke Free Europe - A Forum for Networks - 14 AUG 1997

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