Rights-Based Approaches to Public Health
Chapter 1
Intro: Why RBA to Health matter?
Corey Weinstein: uplifting prisoners' rights to preserve human rights
Dabney Evens: Tibetan refugee with infant in Kathmandu working on carpet mill loom
Elvira Beracochea: go beyond needs, ensure right to health
International Human Rights Documents
Right to Health
General Comment 14, authoritative interpretation
Reports by Special Rapporteur on right to health appointed by UN in 2002
Office of UN High Commissioner on Human Rights/World Health Organization Fact Sheet
What do we mean by RBAs
language of rights available to all
RBA must connect to hard law or soft law
UDHR Article 25
ICSCR Article 12
General Comment 14 Fact Sheet
Ordinary people have the capacity to manage their own lives and society quite well
ICESCR2 (International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (1966,1976)
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 25, by UN 1948
Common Elements of RBAs
Human rights are interdependent and interrelated
All individuals are equal as human beings with inherent dignity
Human rights are indivisible
Every person are entitled to active, free, and meaningful participation
Human rights are universal and inalienable
States and other duty bearers are answerable
Retrospective analysis of RBAs
duty bearers who are engaged, strengthened, accountable
advocacy for sustainable change
community-centered development: sustainability and decision-making ability
alliance building
causes of poverty, power, gender, risk
engagement at multiple levels
focus on marginalized and discriminated groups
presentation of issues as rights issues relative to international standards
RBAs vs Needs-Based Approaches
Public health professionals monitor health RIGHTS of communities
Assessment tool in Figure 1.1
Accountability for public health officials
Excuse for poor performance, especially when needs exceed resources
Balance the rights of individuals with the rights of vulnerable populations
Right Holders, Duty Bearers, and Non-State Actors
relationship between individuals/groups and the State
civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights
positive rights, negative rights
State obligations: respect, protect, and fulfill
TNC, MNC, NGO, CSO, rights claimers
Efficacy of RBAs to Health
show greater range and depth of positive impacts
more likely to be sustained over time