About ASEAN Youth Workshop on Tobacco Control Digital Media Campaign

The use of tobacco has been identified as a significant threat to the health and development of nations, leading to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, chronic lung diseases, and diabetes mellitus. Additionally, tobacco can prove fatal to non-smokers, with exposure to second-hand smoke causing 1.2 million deaths annually. Alarmingly, WHO mentioned that almost half of all children breathe air polluted by tobacco smoke, and 65,000 children die each year due to illnesses related to second-hand smoke. Smoking during pregnancy can lead to several lifelong health conditions for babies. The majority of tobacco-related deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, often due to intensive interference and marketing by the tobacco industry.

Most current adult tobacco users begin using tobacco products at a young age, which they continue into adulthood. According to global estimates, nearly 9 out of 10 smokers start smoking before the age of 18, with 98% starting smoking by age 26. Approximately 3 out of 4 adolescent smokers become adult smokers. There are many factors that contribute to the increasing number of young smokers in ASEAN. In several ASEAN Member States (AMS) cigarettes are being sold with cheap price and easily accessible, many children also begin smoking at a young age due to exposure to tobacco advertisements, promotions, and sponsorships (TAPS). Research in Indonesia has found that the likelihood of students consuming more cigarettes increases by 1.93 times (junior high school students) and 2.78 times (senior high school students) in environments with a high density of TAPS. Southeast Asia is home to more than a third of the world's children aged 13 to 15 years (34% or 14.8 million) who use various forms of tobacco, a concerning statistic. Additionally, tobacco use is intricately linked to poverty and development in the ASEAN region. Data collected by SEATCA indicates that a significant percentage of young people in ASEAN are exposed to second-hand smoke, both inside and outside their homes. Several factors contribute to the increasing number of young smokers in ASEAN, including the affordability and accessibility of cigarettes, as well as exposure to TAPS.

To address the pressing issue of cigarettes in ASEAN and the need for comprehensive tobacco control policies, numerous youth-led initiatives in tobacco control have been undertaken, such as research, advocacy, and campaigns at both national and international levels. Given that young people are the primary targets of the tobacco industry, they should be the main focus of tobacco control education and promotion efforts. Providing greater opportunities for young people to participate in these efforts, including digital campaigns and social media, which are widely accessed by young people, is essential.

In ASEAN Post-2015 Health Development Agenda (APHDA) 2021-2025, the Reduction of Tobacco Consumption and Harmful Use of Alcohol as one of the Health Priorities under the purview of ASEAN Health Cluster 1. Ministry of Health Indonesia initiate ASEAN Youth Workshops on Tobacco Control to increase knowledge and skills of ASEAN’s youth on the development and the implementation of regional scale digital tobacco control campaign.

ASEAN Youth Workshop on Tobacco Control Digital Media Campaign

The ASEAN Youth Workshops on Tobacco Control Digital Media Campaign contributes to the implementation of “Digital Media Campaign on Tobacco Control and Smoking-Related Issues among Youth in AMS” project under the Work Programme 2021-2025 of ASEAN Health Cluster 1. This workshop will be followed by digital campaign and social movement on tobacco control in youth community in AMS. There will be a launching of the campaign on ASEAN Car Free Day as part of a commemoration and celebratory event of Indonesia ASEAN Chairmanship 2023.

The objectives of the workshop are:

• To improve the knowledge and skills of young individuals in campaigning tobacco control
• To develop and to implement digital campaign and social movement on tobacco control among youth community in AMS

The ASEAN Youth Workshop on Tobacco Control is proposed to be conducted on 25-27 August 2023, in Jakarta, in an offline/in-person format.

Tentative Program ASEAN Youth Workshop on Tobacco Control