Establishing Global Governance in the Implementation of FCTC: Some Reflections on the Current Two-Pillar and One-Roof Framework

Abstract

After summarizing the hazardous effect of tobacco use and pointing out the need for tobacco control, this paper presents in a nutshell the 10-year difficult negotiations leading up to the adoption of the FCTC. This paper then examines the overall governance structure of the FCTC, summarizing the structure as two pillars and one roof - the first pillar being national implementation of the minimum requirements in the FCTC, the second pillar being international cooperation, and the roof being the monitoring mechanism. The positive points about the FCTC are pointed out, regarding the changes it has made and its framework approach. What follows, then, are some suggestions for refinement or remodeling with respect to the two pillars and the roof; in particular, this paper points out the need to open up a way for political entities not widely recognized as States to join in the FCTC regime. Then some concluding remarks are offered.

Keywords: framework approach, Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, FCTC, global governance, Taiwan, tobacco control, World Health Assembly, WHA, World Health Organization, WHO