Introduction: Understanding a health and human rights approach -- What are human rights? : the legal framework -- What is meant by the right to health? -- The nature of state obligations -- Focus on core obligations -- Focus on non-discrimination and vulnerable and otherwise disadvantaged groups -- Globalization, obligations of non-state actors and international obligations arising from the right to health -- Monitoring the right to health -- Tools for monitoring I : working with indicators, benchmarks and statistical data -- Tools for monitoring II : identifying violations -- Promoting the right to health : activities to promote and protect the right to health at community, national and international levels -- Reporting : participation by NGOs in UN procedures for monitoring compliance by their governments -- Medical and other health professionals : working with the right to health
Summary
The alarmingly low health status of millions of people in many developing countries is now recognised as a major obstacle to the process of development. In response, increasing numbers of non-governmental organizations are championing the right to health of the disadvantaged, vulnerable and those living in poverty. They are using the right to health in their struggle for access to quality health services, as well as the underlying determinants of health, such as safe drinking water and adequate sanitation
