The Program on International Health and Human Rights (PIHHR) is at the forefront of expanding research in the field of health and human rights, and is a leader in developing health and human rights tools for analysis, programmatic intervention, monitoring and evaluation. At this juncture in the history of the health and human rights field, there is an urgent need to strengthen health systems and demonstrate the effectiveness of using human rights to address public health challenges – including showing that explicit inclusion of human rights concerns is more effective than those public health or biomedical approaches that operate alone. This means documenting examples of how human rights-based approaches to health makes a greater positive difference to the lives of individuals and populations in a variety of areas focuing on HIV/AIDS, reproductive and sexual health, child and adolescent health and health systems strengthening.

PIHHR works to strengthen the practical implementation of human rights for public health programming in a variety of ways – from the design and application of specific analytic and programmatic tools to conducting trainings in various areas of health and human rights. The Program is widely recognized as a leader in developing and testing practical approaches – products such as training modules, assessment and evaluation instruments, and analytical guides – that fully integrate human rights into the work of public health, including program design, implementation, and evaluation. Development of such tools is critical to validating the essential links between health and human rights and to improving the delivery of services and health outcomes.

The work of PIHHR emphasizes the conceptual, methodological, policy and practice implications of linking health to human rights, with particular attention to women, children, gender issues, and vulnerable populations. Program staff have extensive experience in research, training and programming with non-governmental, governmental and intergovernmental organizations working in the fields of health and human rights around the world.

To access the program brochure, click here.

For general inquiries:
Program on International Health and Human Rights
665 Huntington Ave, 1-1202
Boston, MA 02115, USA

Email: rsteiner@hsph.harvard.edu
Phone: 617-432-4314

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PIHHR is closely linked to the teaching and professional activities of the Department of Global Health and Population at the Harvard School of Public Health. Program Director, Sofia Gruskin teaches HSPH courses, works with inter-University initiatives that contribute to the development of health and human rights education, and serves as co-director of the Interdisciplinary Concentration on Women, Gender and Health. The Program hosts self-funded fellows and interns throughout the year, and engages in educational activities with partners in universities around the world.


GHP218 Health and Human Rights: Concepts and Methods for Public Health
S. Gruskin
The course identifies and discusses the complex interactions between health and human rights, with particular emphasis on the use of human rights for public health thinking and practice. The course provides the basis for literacy about modern human rights, including core principles, key documents, institutions and practices. Then, frameworks for analysis of health/human rights interactions are developed and applied, including: effect of health policies and programs on human rights; health consequences of human rights violations; and the linkages between promoting and protecting health and promoting and protecting human rights. Topics including reproductive health and HIV/AIDS are used to illustrate and explore practical applications of human rights in public health. Lecture, case study, 2.5 credits, one 3-hour session each week, Fall 1.


WGH200 Women, Gender and Health
S. Gruskin, N. Krieger
This course focuses on constructions of gender and sex and their implications for understanding determinants of population health and creating healthy public policy. It considers how different frameworks of addressing gender and biological sex shape questions asked and explanations and interventions offered for societal patterns of health, disease, and well-being. The course demonstrates ways of conceptualizing gender in relation to biology and health using case examples pertaining to breast cancer, smoking, cumulative trauma disorders of hands and wrists, HIV/AIDS, violence, access to health services, sexual health, reproductive health, and population policy. In all these cases, issues of gender are related to other social determinants of health, including social class, racism, and other forms of inequality. Implications of diverse approaches are debated, as part of developing useful strategies for improving physical, mental, and social well-being of women and men. Seminars, 2.5 credits, one 3-hour session each week, Spring 1 (Departments of Society, Human Development and Health, Population and International Health, and Epidemiology).


Interdepartmental Concentration
The Working Group on Women, Gender and Health was founded in 1996 by Harvard School of Public Health faculty members, post-doctoral fellows, and students interested in advancing the study of women, gender, and health at the School. In 2002, the school-wide faculty approved the Interdisciplinary Concentration on Women, Gender and Health. This concentration is now governed by a Steering Committee comprised of faculty members, post-doctoral fellows, and students who meet monthly to discuss ways to promote curriculum development and public health research and practice regarding women, gender and health at HSPH.


Links to More Health and Human Rights Courses
GHP214: Health and Human Rights and the International System
GHP268: Field experience in Health and Human Rights
GHP288: Issues in Health and Human Rights


Links to more courses on Women, Gender, and Health
Women, Gender and Health Courses at HSPH


Intensive Course on Health, Development and Human Rights
The Intensive Course in Health and Human Rights is planning to host the next UNSW Intensive Course on Health, Development and Human Rights from 8th - 12th December 2008 on the Kensington Campus of the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. New opportunities and risks associated with human development, widening gaps between health needs of particularly vulnerable populations and responses to these needs, and widespread movements of people through labour and forced migration as a consequence of economic pressure, climate change, conflicts and natural disasters, are key issues for the new millennium. The interactions between health, development and human rights are becoming increasingly clear: the growing recognition of their reciprocal relationships can help shape health and development policies, strategies and programs for the future. This evolution calls for reinforced education, training and research efforts.

For more information, and to register for the course, click here.