Report of the High-Level Working Group on the Health and Human Rights of Women, Children and Adolescents

Countries have a legal obligation under international human rights law to ensure the right to health. The right to health goes hand in hand with the fulfilment of other human rights, such as the right to education. It therefore should not be considered on its own. In this report, experts refer to the right “to health and through health” as an expression of linking health to other human rights and vice versa.On 22nd May 2017, the High-Level Working Group on the Health and Human Rights of Women, Children and Adolescents, which was established in May 2016 by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, published this report. The objective of the Group is to ensure political support on national and international levels in the implementation of the human-rights approaches outlined in the Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health (2016-2030).Human rights are a central component of the Global Strategy. To meet the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, it is crucial that all humans are able to fully enjoy their rights.The realisation, however, of human rights, especially sexual and reproductive health and rights, is critically unequal within countries. This inequality can reverse advancements made so far in preventing maternal and child deaths, and specifically undermine the health of adolescent children. Women, children and adolescents are at greater risk than adult men and millions worldwide are denied their fundamental human rights resulting in ill health and avoidable deaths.This report is set to promote leadership to ensure all humans have the “right to health and through health”. National and local leadership are essential to overcome disadvantages in health and to improve the lives of women, children and adolescents overall. The commitment to leadership through accountability and for collective action is necessary to fulfil human rights.The authors propose the following recommendations to:“Create an enabling environment

1. Uphold the right to health in national law
2. Establish a rights-based approach to health financing and universal health coverage
3. Address human rights as determinants of health
4. Remove social, gender and cultural norms that prevent the realization of rights” (p.8).

“Partner with people

1. Enable people to claim their rights
2. Empower and protect those who advocate for rights
3. Ensure accountability to the people for the people” (p.9)

“Strengthen evidence and public accountability

1. Collect rights-sensitive data
2. Report systematically on health and human rights” (p.9)

The authors call on the WHO Director-General and the High Commissioner for Human Rights to implement these recommendations by:

• establishing a joint partnership of work at all levels including regional and national levels
• building institutional capacity and expertise at the global, regional and country levels to support states to realise “human rights to health and through health”
• ensuring the continuous coordination of and monitoring of advancements to meet the “rights to health and through health” which will enable rapid understanding of good practices

According to the High-Level Group, governments must work towards allocating 5% or more of gross domestic product to public health spending. This is the recommended proportion to achieve Universal Health Coverage.To read and download the report for free, click here.To freely access the infographic on the recommendations, click here.To freely access the infographic on the key challenges to health and human rights for children, adolescents and women, click here.To read the press release, Stand up for human rights to – and through – health, experts urge Governments, click here.World Health Organization. (2017). Leading the realization of human rights to health and through health: Report of the High-Level Working Group on the Health and Human Rights of Women, Children and Adolescents. Geneva: WHO.