Human rights abuses can affect both individual and public health.

Amnesty International researches and campaigns to prevent and end the gravest abuses of human rights essential to good physical and mental health.

Human rights violations can provoke ill health or can arise as a consequence of ill health.

The sort of work Amnesty International does in this area includes:

• campaigning to oppose torture or ill treatment
• working to prevent the denial of health care
• campaigning against violations of the rights of an individual
• focusing on the need for changes to legislation or policy to ensure non-discrimination around health care provision
• promoting the role of health professionals in defending human rights

There is a role for everyone to play in opposing violations of rights related to health – for health professionals and for those with a general interest in medical and health issues. 

What is the right to health?

“The enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being without distinction or race, religion, political belief, economic or social condition.”  The World Health Organisation’s (WHO) constitution

The “right to the highest attainable standard of health” is more commonly known as the “right to health”.

This right encompasses health care and those conditions essential for good health, such as safe water, adequate food, sanitation and shelter.

This right includes access to good quality, affordable and culturally acceptable health services, and to information related to health issues.  

As with all rights, ensuring non-discrimination is at the heart of the ‘right to health’ as is the notion of ‘agency’ – in this case the right to participate in decision making around health issues.

Click here for the most recent AI publications with a health concern

How you can get involved

Health professionals are uniquely placed to document, monitor and campaign around abuses of the right to health and other health-related violations.  

Amnesty International’s Health Professional Network responds to cases of concern through varied campaigning activities and includes:

• doctors
• dentists
• nurses
• physiotherapists
• psychologists
• medical students

These groups work together to give force to Amnesty International’s mission to oppose grave violations of human rights and hold accountable those responsible.

Health professionals have also campaigned on Amnesty International’s global campaigns, including projects within the Stop Violence Against Women (SVAW) campaign, and will do in the upcoming global campaign on poverty and human rights.

Amnesty International issues Health Network Actions and many Urgent Actions on cases with a health concern, to which all activists are invited to respond.   

For further information go to Health Professional Network

If you are not a health professional but would like to respond to Urgent Actions related to health topics, please contact your AI section or go to the Urgent Action homepage

Contact

The health and human rights team of Amnesty International is located in the organization's International Secretariat at 1 Easton Street, London, WC1X 0DW, UK.

It is part of a programme focusing on policy and thematic issues. The office is staffed by James Welsh (coordinator), a campaigner and a volunteer.

Tel: +44 20 7413 5500
Fax: +44 20 7956 1157
Email: health@amnesty.org

This work is part of Amnesty International's Demand Dignity campaign, which aims to end the human rights violations that drive and deepen global poverty. The campaign will mobilize people all over the world to demand that governments, corporations and others who have power listen to the voices of those living in poverty and recognise and protect their rights. For more information visit the Demand Dignity section.