What is the link between health and human rights?

There are complex linkages between health and
human rights:
• Violations or lack of attention to human rights can have serious health consequences;
• Health policies and programmes can promote or violate human rights in the ways they are designed or implemented;
• Vulnerability and the impact of ill health can be reduced by taking steps to respect, protect
and fulfil human rights.

The normative content of each right is fully articulated in human rights instruments. In relation to the right to health and freedom from discrimination. Examples of the language used in human rights instruments to articulate the normative content of some of the other key human rights relevant to health follow:

Torture: “No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. In particular, no one shall be subjected without his free consent to medical or scientific experimentation.”

Violence against children: ”All appropriate legislative, administrative, social and educational
measures to protect the child from all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment or exploitation, including sexual abuse...” shall be taken.

Harmful traditional practices: “Effective and appropriate measures with a view to abolishing
traditional practices prejudicial to the health of children” shall be taken.

Participation: The right to “…active, free and meaningful participation”

Information: “Freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds.”
Privacy: “No one shall be subjected to arbitrary or unlawful interference with his privacy...”
Scientific progress: The right of everyone “to enjoy the benefits of scientific progress and its
applications”.
Education: The right to education, including access to education in support of “basic knowledge of child health and nutrition, the advantages of breast-feeding, hygiene and environmental sanitation and the prevention of accidents”.

Food and nutrition: “The right of everyone to adequate food and the fundamental right of everyone to be free from hunger…”
Standard of living: Everyone has the right to an adequate standard of living, including adequate
food, clothing, housing, and medical care and necessary social services.
Right to social security: ”The right of everyone to social security, including social insurance”.