At the 2007 World Medical Association (WMA) General Assembly meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark (October 3-6), the WMA adopted a resolution with regards to health and human rights in Zimbabwe. It was prepared by the South African Medical Association. The resolution urges the Zimbabwean Medical Association (ZiMA) to address the violations of health rights in the country and stimulates national medical associations of other countries to offer ZiMA their assistance.
Values, Policies and Rights
World Medical Association resolution on health and human rights in Zimbabwe
World Medical Association, 2007
Draft human rights guidelines for pharmaceutical companies launched
19 September 2007
The UN Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, Paul Hunt, today launched for public consultation a draft 'Human Rights Guidelines for Pharmaceutical Companies in relation to Access to Medicines'. Access to medicines is a central feature of the right to the highest attainable standard of health. States have primary responsibility for enhancing access to medicines, as set out in the expert's report to the UN General Assembly last year (13 September 2006, A/61/338). The Special Rapporteur routinely questions Governments about their national medicines policies and implementation plans.
Gender Protocol Alliance dismayed by leader’s inaction
Southern African People’s Solidarity Network, 18 August 2007
The Southern African Gender Protocol Alliance[2] has expressed disappointment that SADC leaders failed to sign the Protocol on Gender and Development at the August 2007 summit in Lusaka. Representatives of sixteen regional and national NGOs working to promote the rights of women in the region said they were at a loss as to why heads of state failed to seize the moment of the 2007 summit after the draft had successfully passed through all the preparatory stages. This included endorsement by ministers of gender; justice ministers and the Council of Ministers that generally comprises finance ministers from the region. From their perspective the targets in the Protocol for the achievement of equality between women and men are non-negotiable. The failure this year will only increase their pressure for implementation when the Protocol is finally signed.
Uganda Mental Treatment Act from a human rights and public health perspective: An Analysis
Mulumba M: Social Science Research Network (SSRN), August 2007
Mental disorders affect one person in four in their lifetime, and can be found in 10 per cent of the adult population. It has been estimated that mental disorders and problems will increase by 50 per cent by the year 2020. Yet, according to the WHO: "All countries have to work with limited resources. Too often, prejudice and stigma hamper the development of mental health policies, and are reflected in poor services, low status for care providers and a lack of human rights for mentally ill people." This essay examines the elements of international human rights law directly linked to persons with mental disabilities that are crucial in National mental health legislations. It critically considers the Uganda Mental Health Treatment Act as an example subjecting it to the test of human rights standards as spelled out in the United Nations Human Rights Instruments. The further examines the provisions of this Act from a public health perspective and concludes with recommendations on how the Act can be made better in light of human rights.
Equity promoting health care policies in South Africa: A literature review commissioned by the Health Systems Knowledge Network
Chetty K: WHO Commission on Social Determinants of Health (CSDH), 2007
South Africa is one of the youngest democracies in the world, with twelve years of a democratically elected government. Prior to the democratic elections, it was a country marked by oppression and extreme inequality. The democratic government has introduced a range of pro poor and pro equity policies. This paper reviews the system that was inherited by the democratic government, the equity promoting policies of the new government and the strategies adopted to implement these policies. It further analyses if the policy objectives have been met and the challenges that need to be addressed to reach these objectives.
Neglected diseases: a human rights analysis
Hunt P:World Health Organization , 2007
This report by the World Health Organisation, examines the relationship between neglected diseases and human rights. It argues that neglected diseases are both a cause and consequence of human rights violations, and the failure to respect certain human rights, such as the rights to water, adequate housing, education and participation, increases the vulnerability of individuals and communities to neglected diseases.
Social Policy and the Quest for Inclusive Development: Research findings from Sub-Saharan Africa
Adesina JO: United Nations Research Institute for Social Development, 1 May 2007
This paper provides a reflective overview of the eight studies commissioned under the UNRISD project on 'Social Policy in Late Industrializers: Sub-Saharan Africa and the Challenge of Social Policy'. The studies involved subregional and thematic social policy concerns. Within this framework, one study was concerned with overall conceptual issues and macroeconomic policy directions, focusing on the dominant or ruling ideas on development that shaped each phase of sub-Saharan Africa’s post-colonial history, and how these ruling ideas shaped economic and social policies. A second set of studies focused on health, water and sanitation dimensions of social policy, while a third examined education and labour market policies. Using comparative techniques, these studies examined clusters of countries in East Africa, Southern Africa and West Africa.
Proposed food labelling laws to promote healthy choices
Appel M, Govender S: BuaNews Online, 27 July 2007
Proposed food labelling regulations which aim to help consumers make healthier choices, are set to revolutionise the eating habits of South Africans. The new draft Regulations Relating to the Labelling and Advertising of Foodstuffs, have been published in the Government Gazette by the Department of Health in terms of the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act. They focus on a number of strategies to improve public health, through promoting healthy food choices and improved nutrition by having products which are sold nationally, being labelled with more specifics.
Commonwealth debates why AIDS wears 'the Face of a Woman'
Mulama J: Inter Press Service, 14 June 2007
The issue of women continuing to be at higher risk of HIV infection than men has received considerable attention at a gathering of women's affairs ministers from Commonwealth countries underway in Uganda's capital, Kampala. Of the 53 Commonwealth member states, 38 are represented at the '8th Triennial Commonwealth Women's Affairs Ministers Meeting' (8WAMM), being held under the theme 'Financing Gender Equality for Development and Democracy'. United Nations statistics indicate that women and girls in Commonwealth countries make up a third of all HIV infections. In addition, women between the ages of 15 and 24 in sub-Saharan Africa - the region most prominently represented in the Commonwealth - are two and a half times more likely to be infected than men of the same age.
Conceptual model of HIV/AIDS stigma from five African countries
Holzemer WL, Uys L, Makoae L, Stewart A, Phetlhu R, Dlamini PS, Greeff M, Kohi TW, Chirwa M, Cuca Y, Naidoo J: Journal of Advanced Nursing 58 (6): 541-551, June 2007
This paper is a report on the development of a conceptual model delineating contexts and processes of HIV/AIDS stigma as reported by persons living with HIV/AIDS and nurses from African countries. It is part of a larger study to increase understanding of HIV/AIDS stigma.