Report calls for clampdown on commercial marketing

Commercial marketing threatens human rights and is a major factor behind the global rise of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).

According to the NCD Alliance NCDs cause 41 million deaths annually (74% of global mortality), with rising rates among children and young people in countries of all resource levels.

In a new policy report, the NCD Alliance is calling on national policymakers to urgently enact comprehensive, robust regulation to protect children and young people from being targeted by and exposed to harmful commercial marketing.

The 'Selling a sick future' report is accompanied by an Explainer which defines the main concepts around harmful marketing to children and young people, and serves as an introduction to the main report.

In the Explainer it says that such marketing can hurt children and young people through advertisements and other commercial practices that encourage eating, drinking or using unhealthy products.

“Products such as alcohol, tobacco, vapes, sugary beverages and junk food, and other things that cause physical and mental health issues should not be promoted among children and young people. Harmful marketing also violates human rights because it interferes with our ability to make smart and healthy decisions.

"Across the world, health issues among children and young people are rising because of advertisements that encourage unhealthy behaviours. Action is needed to stop marketing of unhealthy products. One way to act is to create laws that restrict harmful marketing ..." 

More info/download the report & Explainer HERE.