Dear IFMSA Asia-Pacific Family,

The International Federation of Medical Students' Associations (IFMSA), adopted a policy statement on tobacco control, in ۶۱st August Meeting ۲۰۱۱ General Assembly at Mumbai India. This strongly reflects the commitment of IFMSA, its member organizations and all its medical students in fighting the tobacco epidemic. The Regional Coordinator for Asia-Pacific ۲۰۱۲/۱۳ and his regional team members, in the ۱st Online Meeting, decided to launch the "۱۰۰% Smoke-Free Campus" IFMSA Asia-Pacific Regional Advocacy Campaign.

This proposed guidelines was drafted by the Development Assistants for Advocacy, Education and Policy from November ۲۰۱۲ to January ۲۰۱۳ and was adopted during the regional session in March Meeting ۲۰۱۳ IFMSA General Assembly at Baltimore, USA. It is established based on international tobacco control recommendations, and are aimed at supporting the implementation of ۱۰۰% smoke-free environments in Asia-Pacific universities.

The objectives of this campaign are:

• To support the WHO Framework Convention for Tobacco Control, as students' organization.
• To create a smoke-free environment, by students for students.
• To provide a platform for knowledge-sharing, capacity building on advocacy among NMOs in Asia-Pacific region. 

Attached is the Guidelines adopted during MM۲۰۱۳. Thanks to all NMO Presidents/ Head of Delegates present who adopted this guidelines. 

Unlike the Europe and America regions, advocacy is still a relatively new concept to many NMOs in our region, especially the Asia. The Pacific (AMSA Australia and NZMSA) however, are doing better and actively engage in many advocacy campaigns locally and globally. We want to build the advocacy capacities of our NMOs, hence we thought it will be a great to start learning and doing at the school-level.  

I am now calling the NMO, Presidents, National Projects Officer, National Public Health Officer or any individual who are interested in working this campaign with us. We need at least ۲ coordinators from each NMO to work on this campaign at their local level. Please contact the DA for Advocacy, Education and Policy atda.aep.ifmsa.ap@gmail.com, and the RC Asia-Pacific - rcasiapacific@ifmsa.org. I highly encourage all NMOs to be part of this, and I urge all NMO Presidents to kindly respond to this call, as we really want to make an impact in our region this year. 

Let us together, using our extensive network, and make a difference in our society! Look forward to hear from you. I welcome all kinds of feedback and opinions about this campaign. 

Thank you.