- AUB-TCRG was able to coordinate and work intensively with two local NGOs mainly
Tobacco Free Initiative (TFI) and
IndyAct on tobacco control advocacy activities, in addition to 20 other NGOs who were part of the Lebanese National Tobacco Control Coalition (LNTCC). The main benefit of working and cooperating with NGOs is that they have a direct connection to the public of all categories and can reach them in different areas of lebanon.
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ADVOCACY: In March 2010, a seminar on “Tobacco control policy in Lebanon” was conducted in collaboration with two NGOs (Green Hand and Rotary club of Aley) which are part of the LCTC (Lebanese Coalition on Tobacco control). The discussion panel included TFI vice president, AUB-TCRG coordinator, and the manager of the National Tobacco Control Program. The event was attended by local NGOs representatives and was covered in the media. Read more...
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PETITION: Two local NGOs ,Tobacco Free initiative (TFI) and IndyACT developed a petition to request a strong evidence -based tobacco control law with the coordination of AUB-TCRG. The petition was circulated to organizations and individuals email and advertised through facebook pages. To date, the petition has been signed by over 50 organizations, 15 syndicates and public institutions, and 30 private companies, as well as Heads of Parliamentary blocs and a number of individual Parliamentarians.
The petition continues to collect signatures: Link to the "Petition" -
WNTD NATIONAL CELEBRATION: In May 2010, the Coalition of NGOs on Tobacco Control (CTC- Lebanon) that was established in early 2010 had organized for World No Tobacco Day on 31 May at the UNESCO Palace. The conference focused on the role of role models to promote TC concepts mainly among youth. The conference was successful in terms of catching the media’s attention and the diversity of the participants.
Conference on "Tobacco Free Lebanon" at UNESCO on the "World No Tobacco Day 2010"- by CTC Lebanon
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SCHOOL CONTEST: Tobacco Free Initiative (TFI) in collaboration with Antonine University and with the participation of schools, children and clubs organized a WNTD event and contest that was covered in the media.
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WNTD 2010: In June 2010, the Swiss ambassador to Lebanon hosted at his residence, the tenth anniversary of the Lebanese NGO Tobacco Free Initiative (TFI). Few supportive Parliamentarians attended the reception.
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MARATHON PARTICIPATION: On November 7, 2010, participants from different NGOs that are supportive of tobacco control policies in Lebanon – mainly Tobacco Free Initiative (TFI), ANERA, Rotaryact - participated, as advocates for this cause, in the Beirut Marathon, under the theme of “Run for Tobacco Free Lebanon”. On the race day, more than 1000 participants were wearing T-shirts that had messages such "Towards a Smoke Free Lebanon" or "To 100% Smoke Free Public Places" with the pictures of lungs on it from the back and front.
Young people running for Tobacco Free Lebanon at Beirut marathon on November 2010
- LOBBYING : In July 2010, members of the League of Independent Activists (IndyAct) gathered in Sodeco in front of the office of the largest global tobacco industry (BAT), to protest tobacco-firm lobbying as lawmakers discuss a new anti-smoking law.
In July 2010, while Lebanon waits for the final football match of the World Cup; IndyACT awaits the final decision on the Tobacco control law currently being considered by the Parliament. So, ten activists from the League of Independent Activists – IndyACT, organized a football match in front of the parliament, where the first team represented the international tobacco companies, the second team represented the Chamber of Deputies, and the ball was none other than the Tobacco Control Law currently under discussion in the Parliament. Seconds after the beginning of the game, referee IndyACT raised the red card expelling the tobacco companies’ team from the game because of its unethical infiltration and illegal blocking of the other team. This was welcomed by viewers and fans representing civil society, public health experts and academics, who chanted along with the vuvuzellas "towards complete smoking prevention in enclosed public places!" and "the Lebanese parliament, champion of the world in prohibiting smoking in enclosed public places!”
IndyACT activists playing football in front of the Lebanese Parliament
On 16 March 2011, IndyAct activists protested infront of the Lebanese parliament while the Committee of Administration and Justice (CAJ) was holding a meeting to discuss the tobacco control law in Lebanon. The female activists posed as pregnant women, and wore t-shirts that say “ Your smoke Kills my baby” with a picture of an infant on their bellies to signify the deadly impact of second-hand smoke on every Lebanese citizen and their children. The purpose of the action was to warn the members of the committee from the influence of the tobacco industry, and to push them in passing the law...
IndyACT activists protesting in front of the Lebanese parliament while the CAJ was discussing the tobacco control law
AUB-TCRG hosted a meeting with the
Coalition on Tobacco Control (CTC-Lebanon) on the 15th of April 2011 aimed at developing the coalition’s strategy and action plan to cope with the AUB-TCRG agenda.
On November 18, 2011 an award ceremony was held at UNESCO by the Coalition on Tobacco Control (CTC-Lebanon) to award all pioneers that worked on the tobacco control law. The event included a speech by M.P. Atef Majdalani and Minister of Health Ali Hasan Khalil and distribution of medals. A group photo was taken at the end of the ceremony.
- World Cancer Day 2012-Celebration at the Syndicate of Doctors- February 11, 2012 (Read more)
- Al Hayaa Al Islamia's Event-June 23, 2012 (Read more)
- World No Tobacco Day 2012: on the occasion of the World No Tobacco Day 2012, the health ministry launched a multimedia campaign to usher in the final phase of the law which will ban smoking in all public places starting from September 3, 2012 (Read more)
Vision of TCCW: To protect the second hand smokers from the harm of smoking in indoor public places.
Mission of TCCW : To assist the government in enforcing the indoor smoking ban part of of law 174 as well as raise citizens' awareness of the harms of second hand smoking. In the event that the government is not fulfilling its job in enforcing the law, TCCW will not shy away from applying the policy of naming-and-shaming through the media.
Interested in helping TCCW?
- TCCW is creating a section Responsible Citizen for all people that would like to report violation of the law 174 through logging to the following link: (Click here) and filling a report.
- You can also call 1735 for violation in hospitality sector or 1739 for sponsoring, advertising, or giving free samples.
- Be part of the TCCW inspectors by joining the team. To do so you need to go through half day training (law, ethics, communication skills...) and be sommitted to volunteer for specific hours of inspection.
Like the TCCW page on facebook to stay updated with all events and news related to the Law 174: (
Click here)
Launching of TCCW
A meeting at the Ministry of Interior was held to discuss the implementation of the law 174. The meeting was followed by a press confernce to launch the Tobacco Control Citizen Watch.
Inspectors in Action
- Supporting the enforcement of Law 174 and refusing any amendment- October 17, 2012: Under the slogan "Supporting the Enforcement of Law 174 and Refusing any Amendment", a meeting was held at the "Doctors' Syndicate in Lebanon" in coorporation with the "Tobacco Control Citizen Watch" and the "Tobacco Control Research Group at the American University of Beirut" . The meeting at "Beit Al Tabeeb" was attended by a number of professionals including heads of syndicates (pharmacists, physiotherapists, dentists, nurses, lawyers, and editors), trade unions, presidents of universities and schools in Lebanon, civil society organizations, the private sector, parliamentarians, and media organizations. (Arabic Press Release) (English Press Release)
Check below the links of videos for all speeches
Amendment of the Law 174 is unconstitutional as per Dr. Hassan Rifaat, Professor of Law at Universite Saint Joseph (
Read more)
- World No Tobacco Day 2013-Lion Club Event: As part of World No Tobacco Day's Events, Lions Internation Club organized an event in Charles Hotsler Auditorium on May 23, 2013. The objective of the event was to support the implementation of the tobacco control law 174. the event included speeches by Dr. Rima Nakkash, Lions members, and two musical performances by Anwar Nour and Gabriel Abdelnour.
Workshop on Tobacco Litigation in Lebanon-Law 174, June 5-6, 2013