A group of activists and citizens marked on Friday the World No-Tobacco Day by what they called a 'loud walk' on Sarajevo's central streets.

The peaceful walk was held under the slogan ‘You can't be seen from smoke, so hear the voice of non-smokers’.

Aida Ramic-Catak, a representative of the Federation's Healthcare Institute, expressed support to the gathering, calling for such events to take place more often and to “give health a chance.”

Stressing that there is no harmless contact with tobacco smoke, she recalled that a law prohibiting the tobacco use in public areas is in the procedure and that this is a chance for participants of this protest to say ‘NO’ to the tobacco smoke and ‘YES’ to the law adoption.

According to surveys Ramic-Catak presented to media, 12.7 percent of the school children aged 13-15 are smokers, while 10 percent of them smokes hookah and other tobacco products. Surveys conducted by some NGOs show that every second high school student smokes a hookah, which is also a subject of the aforementioned law.

Students of a few Sarajevo high schools joined the walk, carrying billboards with anti-tobacco messages.

‘Loud walk’ was organised in cooperation of Sarajevo high schools, sports clubs, associations of students, parents and citizens, and with support of the Federation's Ministry of Healthcare and the Healthcare Institute.

‘Climate without Smoke’ (‘Klima bez dima’) initiative was launched within the Reducing Health Risk Factors in Bosnia and Herzegovina project, supported by the Swiss Government and implemented by the World Bank in partnership with ministries, educational institutions, sports clubs and other partners.