On 10 December 1948, the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (click here >> ) – the first human rights document.
The Oxford Health Alliance recognises the UDHR as having been a vital step forward in promoting the wellbeing of individuals, and calls for ongoing emphasis on the ‘right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health’, which is fundamental if individuals are to live their lives with dignity. OxHA calls on governments and ‘every organ of society’ to respect all human rights, including those that are essential for health.
The principles set out in the UDHR have legal force through a framework of international treaties requiring governments to respect, protect and fulfil a wide range of rights. Fulfilling the right to health is dependent on other rights, including the rights to: non-discrimination (e.g. in access to health promotion); education (e.g. on nutrition and physical activity); information (e.g. on different forms of treatment and the diseases themselves); participate in decision-making; and take advantage of scientific progress (e.g. in medical treatments, such as smoking cessation).
Chronic diseases can greatly undermine human rights because of its devastating, long-term impact on individuals – it can impact upon family life, participation in cultural and political life, and the right to education (for example, if girls are removed from school to look after sick relatives). Care must be provided without discrimination once disease has presented, within the government’s available resources – and prevention of chronic disease also requires non-discriminatory access to healthy, culturally acceptable lifestyles.
Particularly important is that – although governments, not companies, are bound by human rights treaties – international human rights standards require that governments ensure that the actions of companies (and 'every organ of society') respect the rights of individuals. For example, governments should ensure that working conditions are adequate and that advertising of foods and drugs is accurate, which can assist in the prevention of long-term health conditions.
More information on human rights and health can be found in the OxHA backgrounder on the subject, click here >>.