Armenia to Host COP12 in 2027
At the 11th Conference of the Parties (COP11) to the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), held in Geneva, Switzerland, on November 22, Armenia was elected as the host country for the Convention’s 12th Conference of the Parties (COP12) in 2027. Armenia will also host the fifth session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), hosting COP12 in Armenia is viewed as evidence of growing confidence from the international community. The MFA states that Armenia is assuming an important role aimed at reducing tobacco use, preventing the resulting diseases, and more effectively combating illicit trade.
The Conference of the Parties to the Convention is the supreme decision-making body that assesses the work done every two years and adopts new decisions aimed at preventing and controlling the tobacco “epidemic.”
The conferences have broad participation; the sessions are attended not only by official delegations of states but also by representatives of civil society, including international and local non-governmental organizations, community structures of indigenous peoples, research and academic circles, women’s and youth organizations, as well as representatives of the private sector.