Special Rapporteur on the right to health

Special Rapporteur on the right to health is a position established by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights to promote and protect the right to health as defined in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and other international human rights instruments. The World Health Organization and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights work closely with the Special Rapporteur to address health-related issues, such as access to medicines, healthcare systems, and health disparities. The Special Rapporteur also collaborates with other United Nations Special Rapporteurs, including the Special Rapporteur on the right to education and the Special Rapporteur on the right to food, to address the interdependence of human rights. The right to health is also closely linked to other human rights, such as the right to life, the right to non-discrimination, and the right to equality, as recognized by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

● Introduction to

the Right to Health The right to health is a fundamental human right that is essential for the enjoyment of other human rights, such as the right to life, the right to dignity, and the right to well-being. The World Health Organization defines health as "a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity." The right to health includes the right to access to healthcare, health facilities, goods and services, and information necessary for the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and other international human rights instruments, such as the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, recognize the right to health as a fundamental human right. The European Court of Human Rights and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights have also recognized the right to health in their jurisprudence, as seen in cases such as Soering v. United Kingdom and Suarez Peralta v. Ecuador.

● Role of

the Special Rapporteur The Special Rapporteur on the right to health plays a crucial role in promoting and protecting the right to health worldwide. The Special Rapporteur is appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council for a period of three years and is responsible for monitoring the implementation of the right to health in countries around the world. The Special Rapporteur works closely with governments, civil society organizations, and international organizations, such as the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children's Fund, to address health-related issues and promote the right to health. The Special Rapporteur also receives complaints and communications from individuals and organizations regarding violations of the right to health and conducts investigations and inquiries into these allegations, as seen in the cases of Argentina and Brazil. The Special Rapporteur reports to the United Nations General Assembly and the United Nations Human Rights Council on the implementation of the right to health and makes recommendations to governments and other stakeholders to promote and protect the right to health, as recognized by the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights and the European Social Charter.

● Mandate and Responsibilities

The mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the right to health is to promote and protect the right to health as defined in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and other international human rights instruments. The Special Rapporteur is responsible for monitoring the implementation of the right to health in countries around the world and for addressing health-related issues, such as access to medicines, healthcare systems, and health disparities. The Special Rapporteur is also responsible for receiving complaints and communications from individuals and organizations regarding violations of the right to health and for conducting investigations and inquiries into these allegations, as seen in the cases of China and India. The Special Rapporteur works closely with other United Nations Special Rapporteurs, including the Special Rapporteur on the right to education and the Special Rapporteur on the right to food, to address the interdependence of human rights, as recognized by the United Nations Development Programme and the World Bank. The Special Rapporteur also collaborates with regional human rights mechanisms, such as the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, to promote and protect the right to health.

● History and Establishment

The Special Rapporteur on the right to health was established by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in 2002 to promote and protect the right to health worldwide. The Special Rapporteur was created in response to the growing recognition of the importance of the right to health as a fundamental human right. The first Special Rapporteur was Paul Hunt, who served from 2002 to 2008 and was followed by Anand Grover, who served from 2008 to 2014. The current Special Rapporteur is Dainius Pūras, who has been serving since 2014 and has worked closely with organizations such as the World Medical Association and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. The Special Rapporteur has played a crucial role in promoting and protecting the right to health worldwide, particularly in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, as recognized by the United Nations General Assembly and the World Health Assembly.

● Country Visits and Reports

The Special Rapporteur on the right to health conducts country visits to monitor the implementation of the right to health in countries around the world. During these visits, the Special Rapporteur meets with government officials, civil society organizations, and individuals to assess the situation of the right to health in the country. The Special Rapporteur also receives complaints and communications from individuals and organizations regarding violations of the right to health and conducts investigations and inquiries into these allegations, as seen in the cases of Egypt and Turkey. The Special Rapporteur reports to the United Nations General Assembly and the United Nations Human Rights Council on the implementation of the right to health in the country and makes recommendations to governments and other stakeholders to promote and protect the right to health, as recognized by the Council of Europe and the European Union. The Special Rapporteur has conducted country visits to numerous countries, including Argentina, Brazil, China, and India, and has reported on the situation of the right to health in these countries, as well as in countries such as South Africa and Mexico.

● Thematic Priorities and Concerns

The Special Rapporteur on the right to health has identified several thematic priorities and concerns in the promotion and protection of the right to health. These include access to medicines, healthcare systems, and health disparities, as well as the impact of poverty and inequality on the right to health. The Special Rapporteur has also addressed the right to health in the context of specific populations, such as women, children, and indigenous peoples, as recognized by the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The Special Rapporteur has also emphasized the importance of international cooperation and assistance in promoting and protecting the right to health, particularly in the context of global health crises, such as the HIV/AIDS pandemic and the COVID-19 pandemic, as recognized by the World Health Organization and the United Nations System. The Special Rapporteur works closely with organizations such as the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and the Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance to address these concerns and promote the right to health worldwide, as well as with institutions such as the World Trade Organization and the International Labour Organization.