The World Health Organization on Thursday called on governments, stakeholders and communities to ban tobacco product flavours and attractive designs, while advocating an increase in taxes on tobacco products.

WHO’s statement was issued ahead of the occasion of the “World No Tobacco Day,’’ with the theme, “Bright Products. Dark Intentions,” commemorated yearly on May 31.

The organisation noted that this year’s theme spotlights the malicious promotional tactics in the tobacco industry, used to lure women and young people into addiction using flavoured and colourful products.

The WHO noted, “Globally, 37 million children aged 13–15 years use tobacco. In the Eastern Mediterranean Region smoking rates in some areas have reached 43% among adolescent boys (aged 13–15 years) and 20% among adolescent girls. The highest prevalence of tobacco use among boys is recorded in the occupied Palestinian territory (West Bank) at 43.3%, followed by Jordan at 33.9% and the Syrian Arab Republic at 31.6%.

“With over 16 000 flavours of e-cigarettes available, it’s no surprise that in some countries 9 out of 10 e-cigarette users are drawn to the flavoured products that target younger users. Alarmingly, the gap in tobacco use between men and women is narrowing, with more women and girls taking up smoking, exposing them to health risks such as cervical cancer, osteoporosis and fertility issues.’’

The WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, Dr Hanan Balkhy enjoined eastern Mediterranean regional leaders to commit efforts towards a tobacco-free future. 

Ms Balkhy said, “Our region has the highest youth smoking rates in the world. We must act to protect the next generation. Let us stand together and make it crystal clear. No more tricks. No more traps. Let’s unite for a tobacco-free future. We need to work with all stakeholders, led by governments, to limit or ban the use of flavours and attractive colourful designs, especially for emerging products including, but not limited to, e-cigarettes and vapes. Let us unite for a tobacco-free future. We owe it to our children, our communities and our future generations to take bold action against the tobacco industry’s tactics.’’

WHO urged governments to restrict the advertisement of tobacco products.