The World Health Organization declared 31 May as the World No TobaccoDay in 1987. The theme for World No Tobacco Day 2017 is "Tobacco – a threat to development." The aim of the campaign is to show the dangers created by the tobacco industry to the sustainable development of all countries, including in terms of health and prosperity. The Government and the society should take all measures to promote the health of all population.

In February 2017, the Public Defender presented a special report on the problems in the field of tobacco control. Preparation of the report was motivated by the high rate of mortality, diseases and economic burden caused by active and passive consumption of tobacco in Georgia, as well as the necessity to implement the commitments under the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control of the World Health Organization and full implementation of the recommendations and the directives of the Georgia-EU Association Agreement. A number of recommendations have been developed for the legislative and executive authorities.

The Public Defender praises the fact that the Parliament of Georgia voted in favour of the package of amendments to the tobacco control legislation in May 2017, which provide for toughening of the regulations concerning the availability of tobacco products for younger generation, full ban on the use of tobacco in closed buildings, as well as direct and indirect restrictions on tobacco advertising, promotion and popularization. The obligation of plain packaging of tobacco was introduced as well, which brought the applicable tobacco legislation in line with the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and the recommendations and the directives of the Georgia-EU Association Agreement.

The Public Defender will continue to monitor the steps taken by the state in the field of tobacco control and the activities of the executive authorities in this direction in the future too.