Health and Human Rights

Fact & Information Sheets

THEME-SPECIFIC FACT & INFORMATION SHEETS

The Right to Water Factsheet No 35

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the United Nations Human Settlement Programme (UN-Habitat) and the WHO have issued a fact sheet on the Right to Water. This fact sheet starts by explaining what the right to water is, illustrates what it means for specific individuals and groups, and then elaborates upon State obligations with respect to the right. It concludes with an overview of national, regional and international accountability and monitoring mechanisms.

A Human Rights-Based Approach to Health

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the WHO have issued an information sheet on a Human Rights-Based Approach to Health (HRBA).

The Right to Health
  • The Right to Health Factsheet No 31 (52 pages)
    pdf, 2.64Mb
    The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the WHO have issued a fact sheet on the Right to Health. The fact sheet aims to shed light on the right to health in international human rights law as it currently stands, amidst the plethora of initiatives and proposals of what the right to health may or should be. It illustrates implications for specific individuals and groups, elaborates upon States' obligations and ends with an overview of national, regional and international accountability and monitoring mechanisms.
  • Arabic
  • Chinese
  • English
  • French
  • Russian
  • Spanish
  • The Right to Health (2 pages)
    pdf, 199kb
    The Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office (EMRO) has issued this information sheet which outlines some of the key instruments that enshrine health as a human right and also explores the linkages between health and human rights.
Indigenous Peoples

As WHO's focal point for indigenous peoples' health, the Health and Human Rights Team has issued a two-page information sheet on this topic outlining WHO's mandate, priority activities and relevant WHO publications.

WHO, together with the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, published a fact sheet on Indigenous Health.

Neglected Tropical Diseases

Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) affect one billion people in the world, often the most vulnerable populations living in poor rural areas in low-income countries. NTDs can result in lifelong disabilities and even death. They constitute a source of social stigma, discrimination and poverty. Affected populations often do not have access to treatment and preventive measures, and research and development has been insufficient. In recent years, there is growing attention to NTDs as both a public health, and human rights issue. This WHO Information sheet on a human rights-based approach to neglected tropical diseases aims to raise understanding and knowledge among health planners, human rights groups, development partners and civil society organisations.

REGION-SPECIFIC FACT & INFORMATION SHEETS

The following information sheets, issued by the Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office (EMRO), set out how health links to the following regional human rights instruments:

The following information sheets, issued by the Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office (EMRO), outline the health linkages to the following International Human Rights Instruments, or human rights issues, and how far the countries in the EMRO region have ratified these:

The following information sheets, issued by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), set out how human rights and health relate to specific population groups:

COUNTRY-SPECIFIC FACT & INFORMATION SHEETS

Maldives

Dr Samlee Pliangbangchang, RD/SEARO congratulating Hon. Health Minister and President of MHRC

The following fact sheet summarizes Maldives' commitment to the right to health and the health-related recommendations of human rights treaty bodies to Maldives. It is a joint publication of the Maldives Ministry of Health, the Human Rights Commission of Maldives (HRCM) and WHO. The fact sheet was launched in Male on 14 April, 2008 by Hon. Health Minister Ilias Ibrahim and Mr Ahmed Saleem, President of HRCH. The launch was attended by Dr Azeez Yoosuf, Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Samlee Pliangbangchang, Regional Director of the WHO South-East Asia Region and Dr Jorge Luna, WHO Representative for Maldives, along with other high ranking officials from the Ministry of Health, United Nations and the media.

Mozambique

Together with the Ministry of Health of Mozambique, the WHO country office has issued a fact sheet on Health and Human Rights in Mozambique.

Uganda

Together with the Ministry of Health of Uganda, the WHO Country Office has issued a fact sheet on Health and Human Rights in Uganda. The fact sheet provides an overview of Uganda's commitment to the right to health, the integration of human rights in health policies and plans, and capacity building efforts at national level. Since 2005, the WHO Country Office has initiated and supported various activities promoting a human rights-based approach to health. WHO will continue working with the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders to ensure attention to human rights in the design and implementation of health policies and programmes.

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