Today's Article
A U.N. legal
interpretation from
2000 flatly states that
health care is a basic
human right
recognized by
international law.
interpretation from
2000 flatly states that
health care is a basic
human right
recognized by
international law.
The American Spark
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Health Care May Be International Legal Right
By Cliff Montgomery - June 21st, 2009
A U.N. legal interpretation released in 2000 states that health care is a basic human right recognized by
international law, declaring that "the right to health [is] an inclusive right that extends...to timely and
appropriate health care."
A World Health Organization (WHO) report first published in February 2003 provides several excellent points
on this matter, declaring that every person has a recognized human right to the "highest attainable standard of
health." The WHO report discusses the U.N. legal interpretation from 2000, as well as other conventions,
declarations and comments that recognize health as a basic human right.
The WHO study's primary focus is on every human being's natural right to clean drinking-water. But one
notices that the report's wider argument--the natural right to health--also entails every person's fundamental
right to adequate and affordable medical care.
Thus it seems that the only matter an American political representative may rightfully discuss regarding public
health care is how it may best be provided to all U.S. citizens.
Keep that in mind as you read a number of quotes below from the WHO report:
"Water is the essence of life. Without water, human beings cannot live for more than a few days. It plays a vital
role in nearly every function of the body, protecting the immune system – the body’s natural defenses – and
helping remove waste matter.
"But to do this effectively, water must be accessible and safe. Lack of safe water is a cause of serious
illnesses such as diarrheal diseases, which kill over 2 million people every year (the vast majority children,
mostly in developing countries). Contaminated water, whether drunk or used to cook food, harms people’s
health."
"Access to a regular supply of safe water is a basic human right, as is access to unadulterated food. But as
with other human rights, too many people miss out."
"Human rights are protected by internationally guaranteed standards that ensure the fundamental freedoms
and dignity of individuals and communities. They include civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights."
"The range of human rights has been enshrined in a number of international conventions and declarations.
The right to health was recognized as early as 1946, when the Constitution of the World Health Organization
stated that the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every
human being (WHO, 1946).
"The Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948 (UN, 1948) adopted two years later
guaranteed all people a right to a standard of living adequate for their health and well-being.
"Article 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights recognizes 'the right of
everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.' "
"In 2000, the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights--the Covenant’s supervisory
body--adopted a General Comment on the right to health that provides a normative interpretation of the right
to health as enshrined in Article 12 of the Covenant. This General Comment interprets the right to health as an
inclusive right that extends not only to timely and appropriate health care but also to those [other] factors that
determine good health [italics added]."
Like what you're reading so far? Then why not order a full year (52 issues) of the The American Spark e-
newsletter for only $15? A major article covering an story not being told in the Corporate Press will be
delivered to your email every Monday morning for a full year, for less than 30 cents an issue. Order Now!
By Cliff Montgomery - June 21st, 2009
A U.N. legal interpretation released in 2000 states that health care is a basic human right recognized by
international law, declaring that "the right to health [is] an inclusive right that extends...to timely and
appropriate health care."
A World Health Organization (WHO) report first published in February 2003 provides several excellent points
on this matter, declaring that every person has a recognized human right to the "highest attainable standard of
health." The WHO report discusses the U.N. legal interpretation from 2000, as well as other conventions,
declarations and comments that recognize health as a basic human right.
The WHO study's primary focus is on every human being's natural right to clean drinking-water. But one
notices that the report's wider argument--the natural right to health--also entails every person's fundamental
right to adequate and affordable medical care.
Thus it seems that the only matter an American political representative may rightfully discuss regarding public
health care is how it may best be provided to all U.S. citizens.
Keep that in mind as you read a number of quotes below from the WHO report:
"Water is the essence of life. Without water, human beings cannot live for more than a few days. It plays a vital
role in nearly every function of the body, protecting the immune system – the body’s natural defenses – and
helping remove waste matter.
"But to do this effectively, water must be accessible and safe. Lack of safe water is a cause of serious
illnesses such as diarrheal diseases, which kill over 2 million people every year (the vast majority children,
mostly in developing countries). Contaminated water, whether drunk or used to cook food, harms people’s
health."
"Access to a regular supply of safe water is a basic human right, as is access to unadulterated food. But as
with other human rights, too many people miss out."
"Human rights are protected by internationally guaranteed standards that ensure the fundamental freedoms
and dignity of individuals and communities. They include civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights."
"The range of human rights has been enshrined in a number of international conventions and declarations.
The right to health was recognized as early as 1946, when the Constitution of the World Health Organization
stated that the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every
human being (WHO, 1946).
"The Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948 (UN, 1948) adopted two years later
guaranteed all people a right to a standard of living adequate for their health and well-being.
"Article 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights recognizes 'the right of
everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.' "
"In 2000, the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights--the Covenant’s supervisory
body--adopted a General Comment on the right to health that provides a normative interpretation of the right
to health as enshrined in Article 12 of the Covenant. This General Comment interprets the right to health as an
inclusive right that extends not only to timely and appropriate health care but also to those [other] factors that
determine good health [italics added]."
Like what you're reading so far? Then why not order a full year (52 issues) of the The American Spark e-
newsletter for only $15? A major article covering an story not being told in the Corporate Press will be
delivered to your email every Monday morning for a full year, for less than 30 cents an issue. Order Now!
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