Dear Colleagues and Friends

On behalf of the Finnish organisers we cordially invite you to take part in the 12th World Conference on Tobacco or Health, which will be held on 3-8 August 2003 in Helsinki, capital of Finland.

The conference will deal with the many facets of tobacco use and tobacco control in different parts of the world. A major theme will be the social process for smoke-free world and the broad partnership needed for that. Practical emphasis will also be on the implementation of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, initiated by WHO.

The conference will bring together, from all over the world, some 2000-3000 professionals involved in tobacco control work. As the spread of the tobacco epidemic and the efforts for tobacco control are global, the conference will take place in truly global spirit, accommodating contributions from all parts of the world. It will take stock of the situation, assess the state of research, propose action and map strategies for new initiatives and further success in the field of tobacco or health.

The host country Finland has already gone a long way in tobacco control, with good results. But in doing so we increasingly see the limit to which one country alone can achieve success. That is why we so much emphasise the need for international action and are happy and proud to host the World Conference.

Helsinki offers an attractive setting for the conference, which will be held at the Helsinki Fair Centre. Located in southern Finland on the Baltic Sea, Helsinki is a renowned conference venue, and during the summer months in particular there is much to see and do in and around the Finnish capital.

Liisa Elovainio
President of the Conference, Cancer Society of Finland

Pekka Puska
Chair, International Steering Committee, WHO Geneva