In a time of conflict, climate change, and rising authoritarianism, the right to health is increasingly coming under threat. On this World Health Day, which is celebrated every year on April 7th, the World Health Organization (WHO) is emphasizing the need to actualize—and protect—health as a human right with the theme “My health, my right.”
In a human rights-based approach to health, every person has the right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. This includes the right to control one’s health and body; the right to the underlying determinants of health, such as safe drinking water, adequate nutrition, and housing; and the right to access health services without discrimination, among others.
Globally, more than half of the world’s population does not have access to basic health services. In some places, including the U.S., sexual and reproductive rights are increasingly under attack. Investing in universal health coverage, advocating for inclusive health policies, and addressing the social determinants of health that lead to unjust inequities remain critical to realizing the right to health.
Integrating human rights principles into every aspect of health and policy will help ensure a more equal and resilient global community. On this World Health Day, the WHO is urging governments to deliver on the right to health by considering the health implications of every sector; increasing transparency, accountability, and public involvement in the creation of health policies; making health services available, accessible, and good quality; and protecting the right to health, especially in areas of war and conflict.
To learn more about how health is related to human rights, explore our resource pack on Health and Human Rights or check out the selected resources below.
- Human Rights Fact Sheet, World Health Organization 2023
- World Report 2024, Human Rights Watch 2024
- Under Threat: the International AIDS Society–Lancet Commission on Health and Human Rights, The Lancet 2024
- Tracking Universal Health Coverage: 2023 Global Monitoring Report, World Health Organization, World Bank Group 2023
Teaching Resources
- Health and Human Rights video lecture series with Alicia Ely Yamin
In a 3-part video series, Alicia Ely Yamin walks us through a brief history of human rights, issues of health in human rights through the late 1990s, and the Millennium and Sustainable Development Goals.