Title of the Book: Global Health and Human Rights: Principles and Practices
Authors: Cees Hamelink, Dirk Essink & Marlies Visser
Publisher: Routledge
Publication Year: 2024
Global Health and Human Rights is a book authored by a group of writers, structured into 13 chapters. This book is based on the curriculum of a master’s degree course at a university in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, where the authors teach. The book places strong emphasis on the ambition to achieve the highest attainable standard of health, as outlined in multiple United Nations human rights documents. According to the general interpretation of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the standard of health implies that healthcare must be accessible, acceptable, and of appropriate quality to ensure individuals’ well-being, and it must be available to all without discrimination.
Healthcare services should encompass a broad range of individuals, including children, the elderly, persons with disabilities, women and girls seeking reproductive and sexual health care, indigenous populations, and those requiring dental care, among other related concerns. However, challenges persist in daily healthcare practices, such as the denial of access to specific health services, the imposition of mandatory procedures or treatments against individuals’ will, and more. Furthermore, tensions may arise between human rights and other urgent issues, such as public health protection during pandemics or breaches of privacy in the provision of medical care. Accordingly, this book systematically examines key aspects of global health and healthcare from a human rights perspective, addressing issues that have received less attention in academic discourse.
Individuals, communities, and groups have diverse experiences in striving to attain the highest possible health standards and navigating the complex challenges that may arise in protecting the right to health. The book highlights the complementarity between human rights and human responsibilities in this regard. Notably, it contextualizes health issues within contemporary history, directing the discussion toward how the existing international order can fulfill critical human rights obligations related to health.
The book is organized into 13 chapters, categorized into three distinct sections:
- The first section, titled “Introduction to Global Health and Human Rights,” connects health with human rights in a global context. This section introduces and explores the intersections of international human rights, global health, and the right to health. Chapter four, at the end of this section, specifically addresses ethical considerations in human rights and related issues concerning marriage.
- The second section, titled “ Health and Human Rights of Othered and Marginalised Groups,” examines key issues concerning global health and human rights, as well as the exclusion and inclusion of “othered” groups within the human rights framework. This section engages with the realities of healthcare for marginalized communities, discussing the complexities of ensuring the core principles of human rights—autonomy, dignity, equality, and security. The chapters in this section cover topics such as reproductive and sexual health, health-related stereotypes, disability rights, and the rights of children and the elderly.
- The third section addresses “Future Challenges in Global Health and Human Rights,” focusing on pressing challenges for the future of health and human rights. These include emerging infectious diseases, global pandemics, and the development of medical technology. Chapter twelve specifically examines technological advancements in the field of health and medical rights. The book concludes with a chapter on future planning, introducing practical tools for scenario development that may be beneficial to readers.
Throughout the book, the authors integrate macro-level frameworks, mid-level contextual analyses, and micro-level experiences to provide a comprehensive examination of human rights violations in global health. As the authors state, their goal is to offer a broad understanding of the complexities and challenges in advancing human rights in healthcare. They acknowledge that the book serves as an introductory yet non-exhaustive exploration of global health rights violations. Their focus has been on issues they consider to have a significant impact on everyday medical practice. Finally, each chapter includes a set of discussion questions, encouraging readers to reflect on the principles and practices covered in the respective sections.
