The highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being. Health and well-being are nearly impossible to achieve when other fundamental rights are neglected or violated, which is the fate of millions of people around the globe. For example, in southern Africa, where HIV/AIDS exists in catastrophic dimensions, women continue to be infected at disproportionately high rates and often lack legal protection against discrimination and neglect of their rights. People fleeing war-torn regions are often politically and socially marginalized and subject to violence and neglect or violation of many of their rights, including those relating to access to basic social services. Despite advances in developing countries, the disparity between the fortunate few and the huge population of the poor results in the lack of adequate food, shelter, and health care for millions. The collaboration of scholars and activists working in human rights, public health, and humanitarian relief in recent years is a powerful force to bolster human rights and health.

Looking at health and human rights problems from the multiple perspectives of the social sciences (political science, public policy, sociology, law) and the natural and quantitative sciences (medicine, biology, demography, statistics, epidemiology) enables us to conceive more promising solutions and employ more accurate evaluation techniques—thus ensuring that the most effective steps are being taken by policymakers and practitioners to promote human rights and health. The FXB Center has launched an international dialogue to promote awareness of the complex issues at the intersection of health and human rights and to help governments and the private and nongovernmental sectors develop the best policies and practices for achieving well-being for all people.

For Further Reading

"Health and Human Rights," by Sofia Gruskin and Daniel Tarantola (FXB Center Working Paper No. 10)
Detailed history of the health and human rights framework and the current state of the field.
"Statement on Health and Human Rights," by the Consortium for Health and Human Rights
1998 overview of the relationship between public health and human rights.
"Health and Human Rights," by Jonathan Mann, Lawrence Gostin, Sofia Gruskin, et al., 1994 overview of the health and human rights framework.

Declarations, Covenants, and other Documents

Universal Declaration of Human Rights
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
Declaration of Alma-Ata (International Conference on Primary Health Care, Alma-Ata, USSR, 6-12 September 1978)
Convention relating to the Status of Refugees
Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement
University of Minnesota Human Rights Library

Additional Links

See our Partners page for a complete list of our partner organizations and other sites of interest.