Development goals: “States must not be tempted by the
low-hanging fruit” – UN expert on right to health
NEW YORK (25 October 2016) – The United Nations Special
Rapporteur on the right to health, Dainius Pūras, today called on states not to
undermine the most marginalised and excluded groups in society by adopting
easy-to-achieve goals or narrowly defining their health-related commitments in
the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs)
“States should refrain from a selective approach to the
right to health and related human rights when developing strategies towards the
implementation of the SDGs, and should ensure full compliance with human rights
law and principles,” Mr. Pūras said during the presentation of his latest
report* to the UN General Assembly.
“Inequities, inequalities and discrimination are major
threats and obstacles to global development, peace, and security worldwide,”
the expert said “The SDGs reflect an unprecedented political commitment and
offer unique opportunities to effectively address those threats and obstacles.”
The Special Rapporteur stressed that, the right to health
is central to the SDGs, as it is both an outcome and a path to achieving
poverty reduction and sustainable development. “However,” he explained,
“health-related targets and indicators are too narrowly focused on biomedical
aspects, despite the requirement to ensure that health promotion and primary
care are grounded in human rights and modern public health principles.”
“In addition, Agenda 2030 suffers from weak
accountability requirements, unclear guidance on how to implement the SDGs at
the national level, and fails to make commitments or offer guidance on how to
transform the global financial system to support such a broad and ambitious
global strategy,” the UN expert noted.
In his report, Mr. Pūras elaborates on emerging priority
issues that are crucial to ensure a successful implementation of Agenda 2030
and the full realisation of the right to health. These issues are: equality and
non-discrimination; accountability; universal health coverage, including access
to quality mental health care; and violence.
“Human rights defenders working on health-related rights
face important risks and restrictions in many countries, in particular those
working on women’s rights; sexual and reproductive health rights, or those
defending the right to be free from discrimination and violence based on sexual
orientation and gender identity,” he said.
The Special Rapporteur urged governments to use the
momentum that the 2030 Agenda provides to make sure that none if left behind.
In that regard, he makes a number of recommendations in his report, among
them:
· identify
disparities and prioritize the most vulnerable through collection and
disaggregation of high quality and timely health-related data, using both
qualitative and quantitative methods;
· monitor
progress and support review and accountability in the implementation of the
SDGs;
· empower
all stakeholders to participate in the design, implementation and monitoring of
laws, policies and practices relevant to implementing the SDGs and realizing
the right to health;
· ensure
that health-care systems are effective, transparent and accountable, with a
focus on primary health care and health promotion, and are ready to address
imbalances and power asymmetries within and beyond health-care systems in all
decisions aimed at reaching universal health coverage;
· make sure
that the High-level Political Forum on sustainable development meets often, is
well resourced, and that States report on regularly after conducting
participatory reviews at the national level.
The political forum should consider the relevant standards set by
international human rights mechanisms.
(*) Read the Special Rapporteur’s report:
http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?si=A/71/304
ENDS
The Special Rapporteur is an independent expert appointed
by the UN Human Rights Council to help States, and others, promote and protect
the right to the highest attainable standard of health (right to health).
Dainius Pūras (Lithuania) is a medical doctor with notable expertise on mental
health, child health, and public health policies. He is a Professor and the
Head of the Centre for Child psychiatry social paediatrics at Vilnius
University, and teaches at the Faculty of Medicine, Institute of International
relations and political science and Faculty of Philosophy of Vilnius
University, Lithuania. Learn more, visit:
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Health/Pages/SRRightHealthIndex.aspx
The Special Rapporteurs are part of what is known as the
Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest
body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name
of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that
address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of
the world. Special Procedures’ experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not
UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from
any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.
For further information and media requests, please
contact:
Ms. Dolores Infante-Cañibano (+41 22 917 9768 /
dinfante@ohchr.org)
Ms. Lucía de la Sierra (+41 22 917 9741 /
ldelasierra@ohchr.org)
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