CITIZENS’ RIGHT TO LIVE AND WORK IN NON-SMOKING AREAS VIOLATED
EVERYWHERE IN ARMENIA

YEREVAN, MAY 30, NOYAN TAPAN. The member organizations of "Armenia
without Tobacco" social alliance express their concern about the use of
provisions of the RA Law on Sale, Consumption and Use of Tobacco.
According to a press release submitted to NT, citizens’ right to live
and work in non-smoking areas are violated everywhere in Armenia: in
public places, offices and transport. The reason, according to the
alliance, is that the law does not envisage an authoritative body to
control the fulfilment of its provisions.

For this reason the alliance requested the Center for Health Services
Research and Development (CHSR) of the American University of Armenia
(AUA) to develop a number of proposals aimed at specifying the current
law and establishing legal responsibility. The proposals have been
submitted to the RA National Assembly. In particular, it is proposed
that the law should envisage a supervisory body and its powers, as well
as the form and amount of penalty for violation of the law.

Since 1988, May 31 is marked as International Anti-Smoking Day.
Armenian officially joined the International Anti-Smoking Movement on
November 29, 2004 by signing the WHO’s Framework Convention on Tobacco
Control.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress