International coalition-building for public health: A case study of bridging local communities to advocate for and advance global tobacco control policy

The public health community, in large part due to international coalition building, has made great strides challenging the tobacco industry and curbing its abuses. Tobacco, however, remains a leading cause of death globally, killing over six million people every year, reinforcing the need for even stronger coalitions and more strident action challenging Big Tobacco. Formed in 1999, the Network for Accountability of Tobacco Transnationals (NATT) is a grassroots network of public health, human rights, environmental, and faith-based NGOs in almost 50 countries dedicated to protecting policy from the vested interests of Big Tobacco. NATT amplifies the impact of communities on a global stage, coordinates public health policy advances on international and local levels, and builds capacity to realize a coordinated vision of global health. In negotiations of the WHO's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, NATT ensured voices of the Global South were represented. NATT advocates for strong safeguards to protect the treaty from industry interference, and works to ensure full implementation of the treaty's life-saving measures in local communities. Moreover, this coalition contributes to establishing global standards that hold corporations accountable for practices that endanger health, setting precedents for future public health policymaking. This presentation will describe the triumphs and challenges of this global network and how it is leveraged to challenge the tobacco industry. A case study of NATT's advocacy at the FCTC's 2012 Conference of the Parties will also illustrate the power of a coordinated advocacy network in challenging the role of corporations in international fora.