The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), developed in response to the globalization of the tobacco epidemic, entered into force in 2005. Its Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products, adopted by Parties to the WHO FCTC, took effect in 2018. The biennial meetings of their respective governing bodies—the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the WHO FCTC and the Meeting of the Parties (MOP) to the Protocol—are key platforms to review progress, address challenges, and shape global tobacco control. The Eleventh session of the COP (COP11) and the Fourth session of the MOP (MOP4) will be held in Geneva, Switzerland, on 17-22 and 24-26 November 2025, respectively.
In preparation for COP11 and MOP4, the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific, in collaboration with the WHO FCTC Convention Secretariat and the health ministries of Fiji (MOP Bureau Member), Malaysia (COP Bureau Member), New Zealand (COP Regional Coordinator), Samoa (MOP Regional Coordinator), is convening a virtual preparatory meeting. This meeting will provide an opportunity for Parties to better understand key agenda items and related technical issues, while facilitating dialogue and coordination among Parties in the Region for more effective and united engagement at COP11 and MOP4.
The objectives of the Member State consultation are:
(1) to provide essential practical and procedural information to help Parties plan and ensure effective participation in COP11 and MOP4;
(2) to enhance understanding of key agenda items and relevant technical issues and clarify their implications for tobacco control in the Western Pacific Region;
(3) to identify potentially contentious topics, explore possible directions, and discuss how Parties from the Region may lead or influence discussions; and
(4) to coordinate planned actions and contributions among Parties in the Region at COP11 and MOP4.
