Background Paper: Attention to Non Communicable Diseases By the United Nations Human Rights Treaty Bodies

Key Messages:

• None of the human rights treaties mention NCDs explicitly, but “other diseases” as noted in the ICESCR can be understood to include NCDs.
• General Comments on the right to health and other rights draw attention to obligations to address NCDs and their risk factors.
• Treaty bodies are increasingly asking countries to report on NCD prevention and control activities, providing an avenue for accountability which remains to be further explored.
• Other human rights mechanisms lag behind the treaty bodies in according attention to NCDs.

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Details:

Authors: Program on Global Health and Human Rights, Institute for Global Health, University of Southern California
Published By: Program on Global Health and Human Rights, Institute for Global Health, University of Southern California
Date: May 30, 2013 – June 1, 2013
Publication PDF: Attention to Non Communicable Diseases By the United Nations Human Rights Treaty Bodies