More than 150 organizations around the world called on the ILO (International Labor Organization) on Monday to stop accepting funds from tobacco manufacturers and to cut all ties with the industry.
THE ILO RECEIVED OVER $ 15 MILLION FROM JAPAN TOBACCO!
In a letter to ILO Governing Body members, governmental and non-governmental health and tobacco organizations warned that the ILO was at risk of « tarnishing his reputation and the effectiveness of his work » if it did not end its relations with the tobacco industry.
The UN agency charged with establishing international labor standards has been criticized for its partnerships with tobacco companies and accused of undermining efforts to regulate tobacco use and reduce its negative impacts on tobacco production. health.
The ILO Governing Body is to decide in a few weeks whether it should join other UN agencies, particularly the World Health Organization (WHO), to refuse to collaborate with this industry.
The ILO has so far explained its links with tobacco producers by saying that this gives it a way to help improve the conditions of tobacco production. 
the work of some 60 million people employed in tobacco growing and cigarette production around the world.
The agency has received more than 15 million dollars from Japan Tobacco International and groups related to some of the largest tobacco manufacturers for « charitable partnerships » to reduce child labor in tobacco fields.
But the authors of the letter sent Monday emphasize that these projects have only one « symbolic impact » on this practice.
Mark Hurley, who chairs the Campaign for Childless Tobacco, one of the organizations signing the letter, stressed the importance of severing ties with the industry.
« Tobacco producers use their membership in respected organizations like the ILO to portray themselves as responsible citizens, when in fact they are the root cause of a global tobacco epidemic that could kill a billion people in the world. world during this century »he warned.
The spokesman of the ILO, Hans von Roland, told AFP that the continuation or not of collaboration with the tobacco industry could be decided at the end of the meeting of the board of directors, during the first week of November.
Source : Epochtimes.fr / AFP
