ENG
Nev Online
The panel discussion and exhibition titled “Breathing in Public Spaces: The Right to Smoke-Free Air” was held in Ankara on January 21, 2026. The event was organized within the scope of the “Youth Initiative for a Smoke-Free Future” project carried out in partnership between our university and the Youth Services Center (GSM) Association.
The program addressed tobacco control and smoke-free zones not only as a public health issue but also as a fundamental human right and a matter of public responsibility.
The event continued with the opening of the exhibition “The Story of the Packages,” which was prepared based on visual health warnings on cigarette packages. The exhibition highlighted the impact of tobacco use on individuals and public spaces in light of World Health Organization data.
The opening speech was delivered by the Rector of Istanbul Nişantaşı University, Prof. Dr. Ayşegül Komsuoğlu Çıtıpıtıoğlu. Prof. Dr. Toker Ergüder, Member of the Presidential Board of Health and Food Policies, Mehmet Arslan, President of GSM Association, and Hasan Şişik from the Tobacco and Alcohol Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry shared their evaluations on tobacco control policies and the right to smoke-free air.
Policy papers prepared by members of the “Smoke-Free Youth Initiative” were presented, emphasizing the active participation of young people in decision-making processes.
In the second part of the day, young participants together with experts from the Ministry of Youth and Sports and Yeşilay discussed concrete steps to strengthen smoke-free zones.