Defining the meaning of human rights and health

Jun 23 2011

A blog post on the Global Health Council's "Blog 4 Global Health" discusses the meaning of language linking health and human rights.

"The connections between health and human rights are numerous and complex. At the same time, there are two very common ways of speaking about health and human rights, and these should be characterized and distinguished. One is the reference to a specific 'right to health' and the other is in the more abstract term, 'rights-based approaches' to health. The notion of a right to health parallels the right to life. Both are internationally recognized legal norms that can be harnessed domestically and incorporated into legal doctrine. At the same time, they are ideals that are not universally upheld" (Clark, 6/21).