Introduction to challenges: The goal of the presentation is to increase the capacity of tobacco control advocates on how to use human rights arguments and human rights treaties to further their tobacco control goals, particularly for smoking cessation. Attendees will learn how to incorporate human rights approaches into their strategy to ensure that smokers have access to quitting services.

Intervention and responses: First, attendees will learn how to use the key elements to the right to health under the International Covenant on Economic and Social Rights which recognizes “the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health” and recognizes the four following factors to be essential element of the right to health:
1. Availability: Healthcare facilities, goods, services and programs are available in sufficient quantity;
2. Accessibility: Health facilities, goods & services that are accessible to all, esp. vulnerable populations;
3. Acceptability: of health goods and services; and
4. Quality: goods and services are scientifically and medically appropriate
Attendees will also learn how to use the country reporting obligations to human rights treaty bodies their countries have ratified and the Universal Periodic Review of the Human Rights Council. Attendees will be introduced to resources developed by Action on Smoking and Health to help public health advocates use human rights arguments to find entry points into the human rights system.

Conclusions: The mass manufacturing and marketing of cigarettes that leads to 7 million deaths every year is irreconcilable with the human right to health. Tobacco control advocates and smokers who want to quit can use human rights arguments to further their right to access smoking cessation services.