Program on International Health and Human Rights

Program Resources and Databases

	Current Debates on Realizing Health and Human Rights Through systematic review and annotation of the peer-reviewed literature, this working paper aims to clarify and contextualize current debates on the roles and responsibilities of the pharmaceutical sector in advancing health-related human rights.
	Health and Human Rights Syllabi Database The database provides an up to date listing of syllabi from institutions and organizations providing health and human rights education in academic settings around the world.
	HIV and Gender-Based Violence Literature Review This publication highlights recent findings on the relationship between GBV and HIV/AIDS and is intended as a resource for all engaged in researching, designing, implementing or evaluating GBV or HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment approaches.
	Database on Health and Human Rights Actors A collaboration between WHO and PIHHR, this database contains information gathered from a survey of organizations related to their structures and programs.
	HIV/AIDS & Human Rights in a Nutshell [Spanish] [French] [Russian] PIHHR in collaboration with the International Council of AIDS Service Organizations (ICASO) present a quick and useful guide for action as well as a framework to carry HIV/AIDS and human rights actions forward.
	Sex, Lies & Stereotypes Based upon recommendations from an expert roundtable on How Abstinence-Only Programs Harm Women and Girls, organized by Legal Momentum's Sexuality and Family Rights program, in partnership with The Human Rights Program at Harvard Law School and PIHHR.
	Human Rights, Health and Development Technical Working Paper Under the auspices of the University of New South Wales Health and Human Rights Initiative, Daniel Tarantola, Andrew Byrnes, Michael Johnson, Lynn Kemp, Anthony Zwi and Sofia Gruskin offer a theoretical and practical framework for the analysis, application and assessment of health, justice and progress.
	Transforming Health Systems: Gender and Rights in Reproductive Health Produced by WHO's Department of Reproductive Health and Research, and involving strong collaboration with PIHHR and other institutions, this publication contains six core modules covering gender and ethical issues in research policy and how to influence chang in health systems.
	Perspectives on Health and Human Rights Edited by Sofia Gruskin, Michael A. Grodin, George J. Annas, Stephen P. Marks. Book illustrates the links between promoting human rights and public health.

News and Events

International Conference on Realising the Rights to Health and Development for All

In October 2009 Sofia Gruskin and Laura Ferguson participated in the International Conference on Realising the Rights to Health and Development for All in Hanoi, Vietnam. The conference was historic in that it was the first international conference to be held in Asia on health, human rights and development and analyzed how issues that have been largely addressed in isolation of one another actually interplay. Convened by the University of New South Wales’ Initiative for Health and Human Rights and the Central Commission for Popularization and Education of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the Organizing Committee consisted of 18 organizations, including PIHHR. For more information, click here.

Expert Meeting on Violence Against Women and HIV

Project Manager Aziza Ahmed presented at a meeting convened by UNAIDS and WHO to bring together experts working at the intersections of HIV and violence against women. The meeting aimed to move forward the research agenda and discuss policy and program implications of existing evidence. Aziza presented results from a systematic literature review conducted by PIHHR, which examines linkages between gender-based violence and HIV.

The Role of Human Rights in Ensuring Universal Access to HIV Testing

n October 2009 Sofia Gruskin presented at a meeting on the Role of Human Rights in Ensuring Universal Access to HIV Testing, convened in Geneva by the The Open Society Institute’s (OSI) Law and Public Health Program, UNAIDS Secretariat, and the World Health Organization. Her presentation on “Mapping of Literature on Provider-Initiated Testing and Counseling” discussed preliminary findings from a systematic literature review conducted by PIHHR aimed at supporting the development of recommendations ensuring the integration of human rights norms and standards in HIV testing and counseling services.

Expert Meeting on Elaboration of a General Comment on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights

Convened by UNFPA, a high-level meeting was held in October 2009 bringing together experts to provide input into a new General Comment to be issued by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to help advance the scope of international human rights standards regarding sexual and reproductive health. Sofia Gruskin's presentation on the “Human Rights Principles Applied to Sexual and Reproductive Health: As Relevant to Sexual and Reproductive Rights" stimulated debate about key elements relevant to the elaboration of the General Comment.

Reproductive Justice Ambassadors Tour

Project Manager Aziza Ahmed moderated a panel discussion about reproductive justice and U.S. foreign policy. Panelists spoke about why investing in comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights is urgently needed and how the U.S. can strengthen holistic, human rights-based care overseas that breaks down the divisions among HIV/AIDS, reproductive health, and maternal and child health. This event was co-sponsored by the Program on International Health and Human Rights and Working Group on Women, Gender & Health, Harvard Law School Human Rights Program, Harvard Law Students for Reproductive Justice and Center for Health and Gender Equity (CHANGE).

Vietnam AIDS Policy and Planning Project, Senior Level Trainings in Phat Thiet and Phan Rang

In July 2009, Sofia Gruskin participated in senior level trainings in Phan Thiet and Phan Rang, Vietnam as a part of the Vietnam AIDS Policy and Planning Project. Working with 6 provinces, the goal of the training was to develop the capacity of government officials, including those from inside and outside the health sector, to use a rights-based approach to respond successfully to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. For more information, click here.

Study on AIDS Treatment in Brazil Published in
Health Affairs

Sofia Gruskin is senior author of a study recently published in Health Affairs that examines Brazil's nearly two-decade effort to treat people with HIV and AIDS to show that developing countries can successfully combat the epidemic. Lead author Amy Nunn, Francisco Bastos, Elize da Fonseca and Gruskin describe how attention to human rights and inexpensive generic medicines are a large part of the solution. Click here for more information about the article and to access the full article, click here.

Meeting on Evaluating the Impact of Integrating Legal Support and Health Care in Kenya

In May 2009, Zyde Raad participated in a meeting of the Open Society Institute's Law and Health Initiative (OSI-LAHI) in Nairobi, Kenya. The meeting focused in part on an ongoing PIHHR project evaluating the health and human rights impact of integrating legal and health care services. It brought together Kenyan organizations integrating law and health in innovative ways, researchers, and technical advisors to discuss approaches to documenting and assessing integration efforts from a health and human rights perspective.

Seminar on Maternal Mortality and Human Rights in Brazil

In May 2009, Sofia Gruskin participated in a seminar on "Maternal Mortality and Human Rights in Brazil" and delivered the opening address of the event held in São Paulo, Brazil. Convened by the Center for Citizenship and Reproduction and the Center for Reproductive Rights and supported by UNFPA, the two day seminar aimed to facilitate a debate among Brazilian and international experts in the public health and human rights fields and to generate proposals to improve maternal health in Brazil. For more information, click here.

WHO Research Meeting on Advancing Sexual Health Through Human Rights

In May 2009, Sofia Gruskin chaired a three-day meeting of the Research Group on Advancing Sexual Health Through Human Rights at the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland. Convened by WHO's Department of Reproductive Health and Research, the meeting brought together experts to discuss findings on legislative and juridical advances linking sexual health and human rights and to determine ways to use these findings going forward.

PIHHR Attends XVII International AIDS Conference in Mexico City

The Program on International Health and Human Rights actively participated in the XVII International AIDS Conference. This year's conference was held in Mexico City, Mexico from 3-8 August 2008.

To access copies of our posters, absracts, and presentations, click here.

Recent Articles and Publications

	Amy Nunn, Elize Massard da Fonseca, Francisco I. Bastos, Sofia Gruskin. 'AIDS Treatment In Brazil: Impacts And Challenges,' Health Affairs vol. 28, no. 4 (2009). To read the press release about this study, click here.
	Sofia Gruskin, Laura Ferguson. 'Using Indicators to Determine the Contribution of Human Rights to Public Health Efforts,' Bulletin of the World Health Organization Epub ahead of print (2009).
	Amy Nunn, Elize Da Fonseca, Sofia Gruskin. 'Changing Global Essential Medicines Norms to Improve Access to AIDS Treatment: Lessons from Brazil,' Global Public Health vol. 4, no. 2 (2009).
	Sofia Gruskin, Rebecca Firestone, Sarah MacCarthy, Laura Ferguson, ‘HIV and Pregnancy Intentions: Do Services Adequately Respond to Women’s Needs?,’ American Journal of Public Health vol. 98, no. 10 (2008).
	Sofia Gruskin, Jane Cottingham, Adriane Martin Hilber, Eszter Kismodi, Ornella Lincetto, and Mindy Jane Roseman, 'Using Human Rights to Improve Maternal and Neonatal Health: History, Connections, and a proposed practical approach,' Bulletin of the World Health Organization vol. 86, no. 8 (2008).
	Released in conjunction with the XVII International AIDS Conference, Sofia Gruskin, Daniel Tarantola and Steffanie Strathdee served as guest editors for a special supplement of AIDS with a focus on Leadership, Equity, Accountability and Partnerships (LEAP). Articles in this issue include: Sofia Gruskin and Daniel Tarantola, 'Universal Access to HIV Prevention, Treatment and Care: Assessing the inclusion of human rights in international and national strategic plans,' AIDS vol. 22, suppl. 2 (2008). For a full listing of articles, click here.
	Sofia Gruskin and Norm Daniels, 'Justice and Human Rights: Priority Setting and Fair Deliberative Process.' American Journal of Public Health vol. 98, no. 9 (2008).
	Sofia Gruskin, Laura Ferguson, and Shahira Ahmed, ‘Provider Initiated HIV Testing and Counseling in Health Facilities – What Does this Mean for the Human Rights of Pregnant Women?,’ Developing World Bioethics, vol. 8, no. 1 (2008).
	Pride Chigwedere, George Seage III, Sofia Gruskin, Tun-Hou Lee, and Max Essex, 'Estimating the Lost Benefits of Antiretroviral Drug Use in South Africa,' JAIDS vol. 49, no. 4 (2008). To read a New York Times article about this study, click here.
	Sofia Gruskin, Edward J Mills and Daniel Tarantola, 'History, Principles, and Practice of Health and Human rights,' The Lancet vol. 370, no. 9585 (2007).
	Sofia Gruskin, Daniel Tarantola, 'What Does Bringing Human Rights into Public Health Work Actually Mean in Practice? and Daniel Tarantola, Sofia Gruskin, 'Human Rights Approach to Public Health Policy' in Kris Heggenhougen and Stella Quah, editors. International Encyclopedia of Public Health, vol. 3. San Diego: Academic Press, 2008.