GPHW2023: Making Health a Human Right: An Interdisciplinary Dialogue

Theme: Making Health a Human Right

Date and Time: 06 April 2023 | 11:00 – 12:00 (CEST)

Event Description: The ‘right to health’ is well understood as much more than the right to health care services. It includes the right to a wide range of socio‑economic factors that promote conditions in which people can lead a healthy life, and extends to the underlying determinants of health, such as food and nutrition, housing, access to safe and potable water and adequate sanitation, safe and healthy working conditions, and a healthy environment.

But where do these ‘rights’ come from? What is their status in 2023? Are they ethical principles, or legal principles, or both? Can rights language truly advance global health, particularly in low and middle income countries, or is the ‘right to health’ only a lofty ideal?

Research reveals differing conceptions of the right to health from different disciplinary perspectives. Are these visions reconcilable? Legal tools exist to advance rights, including health rights, but priorities must be identified by public health experts and affected communities.

In academic institutions, law and public health are taught in different faculties – truly interdisciplinary courses and centres are still rare. Other disciplinary perspectives – e.g., economics, geography, architecture, anthropology, theology – also have much to contribute, as do communities directly affected. Consultation and meaningful participation is often inadequate.

This session of Global Public Health Week will offer an opportunity for participants to share different disciplinary and regional perspectives on ‘Making Health a Human Right’. Everyone is welcome to join, listen and share their views. A short summary of the discussion and any suggestions for strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration will be circulated afterwards.

Event Type: Panel Discussion & Round Table

Event Format: Virtual

Language(s): English

Organiser(s): Groningen Centre for Health Law

How to Attend In-person: N/A

How to Attend Virtually: Zoom

Registration: https://nl.surveymonkey.com/r/KRQSR6C?