The World Health Organisation (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) has helped protect many millions of non-smokers around the world from the harmful effects of second-hand tobacco smoke (SHS) since it was drafted over 20 years ago. Article 8 in particular is designed to ensure implementation of smoke-free workspaces and enclosed public spaces and in many countries with comprehensive smoke-free laws we have seen dramatic and measurable falls in population level exposure to SHS: my own country of Scotland has seen a 97% reduction in non-smoking adults’ salivary cotinine (a marker of SHS exposure) since we made all substantially enclosed public spaces smoke-free in 2006.
However, article 8 does not take tackle the indoor space where most SHS is inhaled – the home. It makes no mention of the home setting beyond a note that consideration should be given to workplaces that are also individuals’ homes. Article 8 guidelines go a little further in stating that “all people should be protected from exposure to SHS” but again mention of the home is lacking. There is some acknowledgement that population levels of smoke-free homes may be a good indicator of progress in shifting the social norms around exposure to SHS that come from implementing smoke-free laws more generally.
As many countries now consider the tobacco endgame, attention is now turning to a little known part of the FCTC – Article 2.1. This part of the treaty calls on countries to go beyond the current measures to protect their citizens’ right to health and, as such, encourages countries to consider additional, world-leading measures in the fight against tobacco.
At the tenth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP) in 2024 an Expert Group on Forward-looking Tobacco Control Measures (in relation to Article 2.1 of the WHO FCTC) was established. The Expert Group was tasked with identifying measures that expand or intensify approaches to tobacco control and has published a report describing 16 measures that will be considered at COP11 this week (17-22 November 2025) in Geneva.
At SHINE we are delighted to see one of the forward-looking measures that will be considered by COP11 is “Expansion of smoke-free venues in private/semi-private environments and reduction of exposure to second- and third-hand tobacco smoke”. The report concludes that: “Expanding smoke-free environments – especially in multi-unit housing homes and cars – would be likely to reduce exposure to second- and third-hand tobacco smoke both in the general population and in vulnerable groups, contributing to prevention and cessation of tobacco use and improved health equity.”
We welcome this report from the expert group and hope that delegates at COP11 acknowledge the importance of tackling children’s exposure to SHS in the home. Depending on national norms and support from civic society, countries should consider some or all of the following measures to increase the protection of children from the harms of tobacco smoke:
- Setting measurable national targets to reduce children’s exposure to second-hand smoke at home.
- Examining effective framing of the public health debate around smoking in the home: taking into consideration children’s rights, child welfare, human rights, and the right to breathe clean air at home.
- National mass media and health education campaigns on the harms of second-hand tobacco smoke on children’s health and development.
- Support for parents and carers who smoke to help them to make their home free from tobacco smoke through access to evidence-based interventions, educational and information materials and advise from health professionals.
- Tracking public support for legislation protecting children from second-hand tobacco smoke within homes, at national level using a standard international question.
Professor Sean Semple
16th November 2025