"We need to look at maternal mortality holistically, then we can really address the barriers and difficulties of the issue that the health sector is not improving."
- Mary Robinson
International Symposium and Book Launch
Following the recent publication of the book "Realizing the Right to Health", edited by Mary Robinson and Andrew Clapham, an international symposium on the topic was held recently in Geneva.
A discussion panel led by Robinson explored a range of healthcare and human right issues, including the recent landmark resolution on maternal mortality and morbidity adopted on June 17th by the UN Human Rights Council that recognises a human rights perspective in international and national responses to maternal mortality and morbidity could contribute positively to the common goal of reducing the unacceptably high rate of maternal mortality.
The issues of HIV and AIDS were a strong feature of the International Symposium entitled "Realizing the Right to Health: Whose Role is it Anyway?", with Professor Mary Crewe, Director of the Centre for the Study of AIDS at the University of Pretoria challenging the "enormous power the medical system has to control the lives of people."
The Symposium also celebrated the launch of Volume III in the Swiss Human Rights Book series, "Realizing the Right to Health".
This book, which is Volume III in the Swiss Human Rights Book series, focuses on the right to health. The book contains 40 chapters by 60 leading health care practitioners, human rights advocates, health officials, and other authorities in the international right to health movement. The chapters address various aspects of book's eight core topics: the human rights perspective on health, prioritzing women's health, the right to health in emergencies, people and groups at risk, key health challenges, multilateral institutions and responses, the role of health care practitioners, and strengthening health care systems.
Realizing the right to health requires a strong focus on strengthening health care systems and transforming health systems for women. Taking a human rights approach to health means understanding the underlying social determinants of this right, as well as ensuring the right to health is realized in times of emergency and armed conflict, and for all groups in society, including migrants and refugees, LGBTI persons, prisoners and detainees, and others.
In this third volume of the Swiss Human Rights Book series, leading international experts in human rights and health address issues such as access to essential medicines, HIV/AIDS, trade and health, SARS and malaria, and human rights approaches to other key health challenges. They address the role of governments, non-state actors and healthcare practitioners, the responses of multilateral institutions, and highlight some of the most promising strategies for realizing the right to health.
"Realizing the Right to Health", edited by Andrew Clapham and Mary Robinson, co-edited by Claire Mahon and Scott Jerbi, was published in April 2009.
The book is available directly from the publishers, Rueffer & Rub, for CHF 48.00 / EUR 32.60 / GBP 24.00 / USD 47.00 each plus postage. For further info, please see the website: www.swisshumanrightsbook.ch or contact Rueffer & Rub at info@ruefferundrub.ch, www.ruefferundrub.ch
Further Reading:
Symposium Program - [2 pages, 433kb]
Health a basic fundamental human right, says global female leader Mary Robinson - YWCA
WHO Or Who Should Guarantee The Right To Health? - Intellectual Property Watch
