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Despite digital innovations and technological breakthroughs, health advocates raise concerns on the realization of the right to health with the UN
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KARAPATAN Public Information
Jun 24, 2023, 4:16:14 AM6/24/23
to karapatan...@googlegroups.com, KARAPATAN Human Rights Update on behalf of publicinfo, karapatanhr
NEWS RELEASE
23 June 2023
Reference:
Dr. Joshua San Pedro
+63 9556532100 (Viber/WhatsApp)
Co-convenor, Coalition for People’s Right to Health
Member, Philippine Universal Periodic Review Watch
Despite digital innovations and technological breakthroughs, health advocates raise concerns on the realization of the right to health with the UN
Geneva, Switzerland -- Speaking before the Vice President of the United Nations Human Rights Council Muhammadou M.O. Kah in the 53rd session and Dr. Tlaleng Mofokeng, Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health on 22 June 2023, the Coalition for People’s Right to Health (CPRH) and the Council for Health and Development (CHD) with the National Council of Churches in the Philippines and the Commission of the Churches in International Affairs of the World Council of Churches raised concerns regarding inequities in the availability and accessibility of health despite digital innovations and technological breakthroughs.
Dr. Joshua San Pedro, co-convener of CPRH said in the interactive dialogue, where more than 70 UN-member States and 10 civil society organizations delivered oral statements, that in countries like the Philippines entrenched problems on the lack of health infrastructure, health human resources, and adequate State funding for public health must first be addressed.
On the other hand, those who raise dissent on State data and narratives face harassment, intimidation, red-tagging, and even surveillance; a climate of fear persists among health workers whose freedom of speech and association are constantly challenged. CHD and CPRH asked the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health to propose how States should approach the lack of sufficient safeguards or laws to respect, protect, and fulfill the right to health which may allow the use of digital technologies to undermine the rights of health workers and vulnerable groups.
The groups enjoined the Special Rapporteur Mofokeng to urge States to adequately fund public health, systematically reverse privatization of health services, ensure a safe environment for patients and health workers, increase monitoring systems for human rights violations, create mechanisms for accountability, and enact laws that will comprehensively address health inequities such as the Free National Public Health System Bill in the Philippines.
Among her concluding remarks and recommendations, the Special Rapporteur stated that surveillance of vulnerable populations and groups is not in line with the right to health approach and businesses must not interfere with the right to health and human right. Taking note of inequalities gravely aggravated in a pandemic, Dr. Mofokeng remarked that a pandemic treaty without a human rights approach and human rights foundation will not yield the desired equitable outcomes. She furthered that scientific development is a public good and the rights-based approach is key to ensuring availability, accessibility, affordability and quality of diagnostics, screening test, therapeutics, vaccines, surgical procedures as well as sexual and reproductive health programs.
CHD and CPRH as well as other health organizations such as the Alliance of Health Workers, Health Alliance for Democracy, Health Action for Human Rights, Community Medicine Practitioners and Advocates Association, and Filipino Nurses United are members of the Philippine Universal Periodic Review Watch.#
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Related links:
Interactive dialogue of the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health:
https://media.un.org/en/asset/k10/k1012d2yd6
(Dr. San Pedro oral intervention time: 2:16:43-2:18:23)
Report of the Special Rapoorteur on Health on Digital Innovation, Technologies and the Right to Health (A/HRC/53/65):
http://undocs.org/en/A/HRC/53/65
23 June 2023
Reference:
Dr. Joshua San Pedro
+63 9556532100 (Viber/WhatsApp)
Co-convenor, Coalition for People’s Right to Health
Member, Philippine Universal Periodic Review Watch
Despite digital innovations and technological breakthroughs, health advocates raise concerns on the realization of the right to health with the UN
Geneva, Switzerland -- Speaking before the Vice President of the United Nations Human Rights Council Muhammadou M.O. Kah in the 53rd session and Dr. Tlaleng Mofokeng, Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health on 22 June 2023, the Coalition for People’s Right to Health (CPRH) and the Council for Health and Development (CHD) with the National Council of Churches in the Philippines and the Commission of the Churches in International Affairs of the World Council of Churches raised concerns regarding inequities in the availability and accessibility of health despite digital innovations and technological breakthroughs.
Dr. Joshua San Pedro, co-convener of CPRH said in the interactive dialogue, where more than 70 UN-member States and 10 civil society organizations delivered oral statements, that in countries like the Philippines entrenched problems on the lack of health infrastructure, health human resources, and adequate State funding for public health must first be addressed.
On the other hand, those who raise dissent on State data and narratives face harassment, intimidation, red-tagging, and even surveillance; a climate of fear persists among health workers whose freedom of speech and association are constantly challenged. CHD and CPRH asked the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health to propose how States should approach the lack of sufficient safeguards or laws to respect, protect, and fulfill the right to health which may allow the use of digital technologies to undermine the rights of health workers and vulnerable groups.
The groups enjoined the Special Rapporteur Mofokeng to urge States to adequately fund public health, systematically reverse privatization of health services, ensure a safe environment for patients and health workers, increase monitoring systems for human rights violations, create mechanisms for accountability, and enact laws that will comprehensively address health inequities such as the Free National Public Health System Bill in the Philippines.
Among her concluding remarks and recommendations, the Special Rapporteur stated that surveillance of vulnerable populations and groups is not in line with the right to health approach and businesses must not interfere with the right to health and human right. Taking note of inequalities gravely aggravated in a pandemic, Dr. Mofokeng remarked that a pandemic treaty without a human rights approach and human rights foundation will not yield the desired equitable outcomes. She furthered that scientific development is a public good and the rights-based approach is key to ensuring availability, accessibility, affordability and quality of diagnostics, screening test, therapeutics, vaccines, surgical procedures as well as sexual and reproductive health programs.
CHD and CPRH as well as other health organizations such as the Alliance of Health Workers, Health Alliance for Democracy, Health Action for Human Rights, Community Medicine Practitioners and Advocates Association, and Filipino Nurses United are members of the Philippine Universal Periodic Review Watch.#
---
Related links:
Interactive dialogue of the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health:
https://media.un.org/en/asset/k10/k1012d2yd6
(Dr. San Pedro oral intervention time: 2:16:43-2:18:23)
Report of the Special Rapoorteur on Health on Digital Innovation, Technologies and the Right to Health (A/HRC/53/65):
http://undocs.org/en/A/HRC/53/65
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KARAPATAN is an alliance of human rights organizations and programs, human rights desks and committees of people’s organizations, and individual advocates committed to the defense and promotion of people’s rights and civil liberties. It monitors and documents cases of human rights violations, assists and defends victims and conducts education, training and campaign.
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KARAPATAN is an alliance of human rights organizations and programs, human rights desks and committees of people’s organizations, and individual advocates committed to the defense and promotion of people’s rights and civil liberties. It monitors and documents cases of human rights violations, assists and defends victims and conducts education, training and campaign.
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