Developing and utilizing tobacco control information and policy networks in Central and Eastern Europe and the newly independent states

Krasovsky KS, Szilagyi T, Flatley K.

12th World Conference on Tobacco or Health, Helsinki, Finland, 2003. Abstracts, page 338.
PURPOSE. To create and utilize regional and national networks for tobacco control policy change in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and the Newly Independent States (NIS).
METHODS. In 2002, ADIC in Ukraine and Health 21 Hungarian Foundation were funded by the Open Society Institute to develop a comprehensive tobacco control information and policy network in the CEE and NIS region. ADIC was funded to develop a bi-monthly tobacco control e-mail digest and web-site for tobacco control advocates in the NIS. The digest contains pertinent tobacco control research, policy and legislation monitoring, advocacy toolkits, and skill-building materials in Russian. In order to broaden the NIS network, ADIC identified partners in the Caucasus and Central Asia that provide regional monitoring.

Health 21 Hungarian Foundation created a similar information network in CEE. The CEE email digest and website provides legislation and policy monitoring and economics research. Health 21 focuses on supplying the network with tools for developing effective tobacco control legislation.

Biannually, ADIC and Health 21 create a joint newsletter on tobacco control achievements and news from the CEE/NIS regions. Face to face meetings of network participants a held twice a year to facilitate the sharing of best practices and joint projects.

CONCLUSION. Through this network, tobacco control research, best practices, and advocacy skill-building tools are now being shared between NGOs in the CEE, NIS and globally. Increased information sharing in the CEE/NIS region is leading to the development of joint regional projects, collaboration with global tobacco control experts, and the increased involvement of young researchers and scholars in the tobacco control movement. It is clear that stronger tobacco control information and policy networks are needed in developing countries, as sharing knowledge is a critical step in the development of effective tobacco control policy.