Annual Report 2020
Welcome words
2020 was literally a challenge for all of us, and the LIFE team is not an exception. In particular, we have become a platform to mobilize the efforts of the Regional Public Health Centers to work together in order to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and to make significant efforts to prevent more people from starting to smoke.
Thanks to a successful advocacy campaign in 2020, the Parliament of Ukraine passed important draft laws that equated heated tobacco products and cigarillos to regular cigarettes at excise rates. In December, these decisions were protected from the pressure of the tobacco lobby, and an additional 5 billion hryvnias were saved for the State Budget.
The increase in excise duties on tobacco products added 10.6 billion hryvnias to the State Budget, which is approximately 60% of the amount used by the Ministry of Health in 2020 from the COVID-19 Fund
Electronic smoking devices are prohibited from sale to persons under 18 years of age.
We have a lot of plans for the next year, so we need to be a driving force for changes in public health.
Lilia Olefir
Executive Director of the NGO "Life"
To improve health and well-being of people through advocacy campaigns and policy change.
Life expectancy and quality in Ukraine are increasing. The government takes into account public health interests when making any political decision. Everyone’s right to health is protected by the state at the highest level.
From local action to global change
2009
- the foundation of the NGO "Life".
- a creation of the coordination center of the Coalition of NGOs and initiatives “For Smoke-Free Ukraine” on the platform of the NGO "Life".
2010
- a ban on tobacco advertising in all print media.
2011
- the beginning of a systematic fight against the intervention of the tobacco industry — the launch of the Golden Scythe Award.
2012
- a ban on tobacco advertising and sponsorship.
- introduction of graphic warnings about the harm of smoking with images on tobacco packages (50% of the pack).
- a ban on smoking in public and partly in the workplace; all public catering establishments are free from tobacco smoke.
2013
- National monitoring of cafes, bars and restaurants, which found that 93% of establishments comply with the law on the banning of indoor smoking.
2014
- initiation of the project "Ukrainian Center for Tobacco Control" — an analytical center for tobacco control.
2015
- awarding the NGO "Life" the highest international award in the field of tobacco control — the Bloomberg Philanthropies Awards as the best organization in the nomination “Protecting of people from the harmful effects of tobacco smoke” at the 16th World Conference "Health or Tobacco".
2016
- Manifesto "For the future without tobacco" signed by Ukrainian politicians, public and cultural figures, doctors and sportsmen.
2017
- the adoption of the seven-year plan to increase tobacco excise taxes.
- 23% reduction in smoking prevalence among 13-15-year-olds compared to 2011 according to the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS).
- Сreation of a professional service to provide smoking cessation assistance that helped quit smoking for free.
2018
- Coordination of a professional service to provide smoking cessation assistance that helped quit smoking for free.
- awarding the NGO "Life" an award from the World Health Organization for outstanding achievements in tobacco control.
2019
- carrying out in partnership with the Public Health Center of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine information campaign "Tobacco smoke — an invisible killer", thanks to which Ukrainians began to more actively defend their right to smokeless air.
- conducting the first in Ukraine research "Tobacco Industry Interference Index" and the creation of the "Tobacco Industry Monitoring Center".
INCREASING EXCISE DUTIES SAVES LIVES 2009–2020
The average rate of excise duty on a pack of cigarettes in Ukraine has increased 15 times — from 1.62 UAH to 24.5 UAH.
Annual revenues to the State Budget from tobacco excises increased 6 times — from UAH 9.1 billion to UAH 54.7 billion.
Achievements of the Life team in 2020
Increasing the excise tax on tobacco products
Excise duties on heated tobacco
products (HTPs), cigarillos and cigarettes have been harmonized. Excise duty on liquids for electronic cigarettes has been introduced
- the decision will bring an additional UAH 5.4 billion to the State Budget in 2021
According to the calculations of the Kyiv School of Economics, the State Budget revenues from excises on HTPs will amount to UAH 7.12 billion in 2021 (excise tax in 2020 — UAH 1.7 billion)
- the decision will bring an additional UAH 80 million to the State Budget thanks to the harmonization of the excise tax on cigarillos
Introduction of a ban on the sale of electronic smoking devices to persons under 18
- “Logic”, an importer of e-cigarettes and liquids for them, stopped sales and advertising in Ukraine
Restoration of the protection of the right to smoke-free air of employees and consumers of restaurants
- the right to smoke-free air of 77 000 restaurant workers was restored (State Statistics Service of Ukraine)
- 100 appeals were sent to the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection People regarding the implementation of anti-tobacco legislation
Expert consultations were provided during the preparation of a comprehensive anti-tobacco draft law №4358, which was registered in the Parliament of Ukraine by representatives of the Committee on Public Health, Medical Assistance and Medical Insurance
The national information campaign "Quarantine weakened — the danger of COVID-19 remains" was conducted.
- reach of the campaign was 34 million people, due to free placement of materials as social advertising on television and in public places.
A social information campaign "Safe smoking does not exist" was conducted, which reached 25 million people and had a positive impact on young people
- the campaign encourages not to start smoking almost 80% of non-smokers who remembered the advertisement
- half of smokers who remembered the advertisement, started thinking about refusing the use of electronic smoking devices
To develop and evaluate the campaign, a comprehensive sociological survey was conducted (testing of advertising materials at the development stage, quantitative research before and after the campaign).
Strengthening the competence of regional public health centres in 20 regions of Ukraine to conduct information campaigns
In April, an all-Ukrainian information campaign "Death Delivery from Philip Morris and GLOVO" was held, where our team clearly showed how the tobacco industry attracts teenagers to smoke
- such videos were filmed by various youth organizations and then the story was eventually picked up by the media
- tobacco giant Philip Morris was accused of breaking the promise not to sell its products to children, and GLOVO was accused of pursuing an irresponsible social policy
- thanks to publicity, the “IQOS icon” was imperceptibly removed from the GLOVO application, although the campaign for its launch was strongly supported in the media
Increasing the excise tax on tobacco products
Excise duties on heated tobacco
products (HTPs), cigarillos and cigarettes have been harmonized. Excise duty on liquids for electronic cigarettes has been introduced.
- the decision will bring an additional UAH 5.4 billion to the State Budget in 2021
According to the calculations of the Kyiv School of Economics, the State Budget revenues from excises on HTPs will amount to UAH 7.12 billion in 2021 (excise tax in 2020 — UAH 1.7 billion)
- the decision will bring an additional UAH 80 million to the State Budget thanks to the harmonization of the excise tax on cigarillos
Expert consultations were provided during the preparation of a comprehensive anti-tobacco draft law №4358, which was registered in the Parliament of Ukraine by representatives of the Committee on Public Health, Medical Assistance and Medical Insurance
Strengthening the competence of regional public health centres in 20 regions of Ukraine to conduct information campaigns
Introduction of a ban on the sale of electronic smoking devices to persons under 18
- “Logic”, an importer of e-cigarettes and liquids for them, stopped sales and advertising in Ukraine
The national information campaign "Quarantine weakened — the danger of COVID-19 remains" was conducted.
- reach of the campaign was 34 million people, due to free placement of materials as social advertising on television and in public places.
In April, an all-Ukrainian information campaign "Death Delivery from Philip Morris and GLOVO" was held, where our team clearly showed how the tobacco industry attracts teenagers to smoke
- such videos were filmed by various youth organizations and then the story was eventually picked up by the media
- tobacco giant Philip Morris was accused of breaking the promise not to sell its products to children, and GLOVO was accused of pursuing an irresponsible social policy
- thanks to publicity, the “IQOS icon” was imperceptibly removed from the GLOVO application, although the campaign for its launch was strongly supported in the media
Restoration of the protection of the right to smoke-free air of employees and consumers of restaurants
- the right to smoke-free air of 77 000 restaurant workers was restored (State Statistics Service of Ukraine)
- 100 appeals were sent to the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection People regarding the implementation of anti-tobacco legislation
A social information campaign "Safe smoking does not exist" was conducted, which reached 25 million people and had a positive impact on young people
- the campaign encourages not to start smoking almost 80% of non-smokers who remembered the advertisement
- half of smokers who remembered the advertisement, started thinking about refusing the use of electronic smoking devices
To develop and evaluate the campaign, a comprehensive sociological survey was conducted (testing of advertising materials at the development stage, quantitative research before and after the campaign).
Quarantine weakened — the danger of COVID-19 remains
(June — September)
Information campaign
"Plain packaging reduces the attractiveness of smoking"
(June — July)
Information campaign
"Safe smoking does not exist"
(November 19 — January)
Information branding campaign "2022 without tobacco — the end of the smoking era"
The main purpose is to persuade MPs to support changes to anti-tobacco legislation
Media
OUR ANALYTICS
Research
Infographics
Reports and analytical materials
Experts of the NGO “Life” joined the development of the manual What you need to know about tobacco control in general and in Ukraine? Opportunities at the regional level, prepared by the Public Health Center of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine
All-Ukrainian partnership network
NGO "Life has developed cooperation with representatives of civil society, state and municipal institutions in 21 regions of Ukraine.А list of regions where we are active
Gratitude to the partners of "Life" for fruitful cooperation
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NGO "The Network of Responsible"
Kyivreklama
JSC "Ukrzaliznytsia"
Independent radio station "Hromadske"
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Life’s financial report
Income: according to the currency rate at the time of receiving funds
Expenses
Team
Lilia Olefir
Executive Director
Hanna Hopko
Deputy Chairman of the Board
Andrii Skipalskyi
Chairman of the Board
Svitlana Sydorova
Project Coordinator
Oksana Levytska
Project Coordinator
Dmytro Kupyra
Advocacy Manager
Dmytro Polonskyi
Communication Manager
Valeria Ratunda
Chief Accountant