Question

Why a Rights-Based Approach to Health?

• What is meant by “the right to health”?
• What are the key features of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights concerning health?
• How might one carry out a “human rights approach” to health in global health efforts?
• How could one encourage countries and their development partners to pay greater attention to human rights issues in health?

Answer 1

1.In 1948,a right to health care was incorporated into the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the coonstitution of WHO.It declares that everyone has the right to the highest attainable standard of physical,mental health which includes access to all medical services,sanitation,adequate food,decent house,healthy working conditions and a clean environment.

2 It outlines individual rights and freedoms based on the principle that human rights are based on the inherent dignity of every person.It contains both civil and political as well as economic social and cultural protections.it is not legally binding,but nonetheless forms the bedrock of international human rights law.

3.Assess health policies,programs and practice in terms of their impact on human rights.Analyze and address the health impacts resulting from violations of human rights when considering to improve population health.Finally prioritize the fulfillment of human rights.

4 Where awareness and interestscoincide,effective international responses to health threats are posssible.Human rights can help decision-makers asses risk.,by focusing aattention on vulnerable populations ,minorities,the rural poor and women especially ,who are most often neglected and marginalized.Human rights provide standards against which government performance is measured over time.Human rights principles and legal obligations can be used by advocates and authorities to help diagnose the effectiveness of current health policies and develop new approaches.Human rights are used to share value systems for the world.Therefore every opportunity should be taken to see them not simply as shared goals,but as legal obligations and policy -making tools that can assist those charged with making complex decisions.