Using human rights measures to advance tobacco control- Japan and the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women

Japan has made progress on tobacco control in recent years. However, every year more than 157800 Japanese citizens1 and residents die from tobacco related diseases. Tobacco is a leading cause of preventable death and is therefore a considerable obstacle to the right to health of Japanese citizens. Tobacco is a human rights and women’s and girls’ rights issue and should be considered as part of the government’s human rights obligations. Tobacco, and the actions of the tobacco industry, prevents the women and girls of Japan from enjoying the highest attainable standard of health.