Cigarette makers are now using the court system to undermine public health policies that protect people from the harmful effects of tobacco.

That’s the opinion of the World Health Organization (WHO) which says these companies are threatening governments with litigation or discrediting evidence proving the dangers of tobacco.

On World No Tobacco Day, observed on 31 May, WHO is calling on countries to stand strong in the face of such intimidation.

According to WHO, tobacco kills roughly six million people a year.

To find more about this Dianne Penn spoke to Dr. Edouard Tursan-d’Espaignet, Coordinator of Surveillance and Monitoring for Tobacco at WHO in Geneva.

Duration: 4'38"