Arms and Tobacco Non-Engagement Policy
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Arms and Tobacco Non-Engagement Policy
What is the policy?
The World Patients Alliance (WPA) Arms and Tobacco Non-Engagement Policy sets a clear ethical standard for our organization. It ensures that WPA does not engage in any financial, operational, advisory, or representational relationships with the arms or tobacco industries (collectively referred to as ATI).
This policy aligns with key global frameworks developed by the World Health Organization, including the Framework of Engagement with Non-State Actors (FENSA) and the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). These frameworks identify the arms and tobacco industries as fundamentally incompatible with public health objectives.
Why we adopted it
The influence of the arms and tobacco industries presents a significant threat to global health.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), tobacco use causes more than 8 million deaths each year, including 1.3 million non-smokers exposed to secondhand smoke (Source: WHO Tobacco Fact Sheet).
At the same time, the arms trade contributes to violent conflict, population displacement, and the collapse of healthcare systems in affected regions. These consequences severely undermine efforts to improve health outcomes and protect vulnerable communities. (Source: WHO Health and Conflict and UNHCR Global Trends Report).
As an organization committed to advancing patient advocacy, WPA has a responsibility to ensure that our work remains free from such harmful influence. This policy is a proactive measure to protect our mission and build trust across our global community.
What the policy includes
The policy applies to all aspects of WPA’s operations, including board members, staff, committees, and any individual or organization acting on behalf of WPA.
- Key elements include:
- Prohibition of any financial support, sponsorship, or partnership with ATI
- Mandatory screening for board, staff, and collaborators to identify existing or past affiliations with ATI
- Structured due diligence procedures to document and review partnership eligibility
- Oversight by a dedicated Governance and Ethics Committee
- Protection for whistleblowers who report potential ATI affiliations or violations
- Retention of screening records for a minimum of five years to ensure auditability and accountability
We also encourage member organizations, partners, and collaborators to voluntarily align with this policy as part of a broader commitment to ethical public health engagement.
Our direction forward
This policy is not just a document. It reflects WPA’s long-term direction and shared values. Ethical leadership begins with transparency, and effective advocacy begins with trust. We thank our global network for reflecting on this journey with us and helping build a standard that protects patients and strengthens public health systems.
Read the full policy
Download the full Arms and Tobacco Non-Engagement Policy here: ATI Policy (PDF).
