PHA-Exch> 4 new publications on Human Rights Centre, University of Essex, website

[Claudio Schuftan]

From: Bueno De Mesquita, Judith R jrbuen at essex.ac.uk



The 4 below publications have now been posted on the website of the Human
Rights Centre, University of Essex, at
http://www2.essex.ac.uk/human_rights_centre/rth/projects.shtm.


International Assistance and Cooperation in Sexual and Reproductive Health:
A Human Rights Responsibility for Donors

Judith Bueno de Mesquita and Paul Hunt

States' obligations under some international treaties extend beyond their
national borders to international assistance and cooperation for human
rights, including the rights to sexual and reproductive health, in other
countries. This publication focuses on what is expected of donors in the
context of this responsibility. It shows how many donors are taking
important steps towards fulfilling this duty through measures they are
taking to integrate the rights to sexual and reproductive health into their
policies and programmes, but also argues that many donors can also do more.
The publication concludes with a set of recommendations addressed to donors
and their developing country partner governments.

Human Rights Guidelines for Pharmaceutical Companies in relation to Access
to Medicines: the Sexual and Reproductive Health Context

Rajat Khosla and Paul Hunt

When Paul Hunt was UN Special Rapporteur (2002-2008), a recurrent theme in
his work was access to medicines. For the most part, he - and colleagues in
the Right to Health Unit - looked at the duties of States in relation to
access to medicines e.g. his report to the UN General Assembly A/61/338,
dated 13 September 2006. However, States reported that when endeavouring to
enhance access to medicines the policies and practices of some
pharmaceutical companies were a very considerable obstacle. Thus, he was
urged to prepare access-to-medicines guidelines for pharmaceutical
companies. After extensive research and wide-ranging consultations over some
years, Paul Hunt and Rajat Khosla wrote 'Human Rights Guidelines for
Pharmaceutical Companies in relation to Access to Medicines'. These
Guidelines were published by the UN General Assembly in A/63/263, dated 11
August 2008. The present publication briefly discusses medicines and sexual
and reproductive health, in particular medicines, HIV/AIDS and the human
papillomavirus (HPV) - HPV being responsible for over 99% of cervical
cancers. In this context, the publication then introduces, and reproduces,
the 'Human Rights Guidelines for Pharmaceutical Companies in relation to
Access to Medicines' that were published by the General Assembly in 2008.

Participation and the right to the highest attainable standard of health

Dr Helen Potts

Active and informed participation is an integral component of health
systems, as well as the right to the highest attainable standard of health.
Despite its critical importance, health and human rights have not given
participation the attention it deserves. While some health researchers have
made more headway than those working in human rights, neither community has
a widely accepted understanding of what the process of participation means
in practice. The monograph is an accessible, practical, timely and original
introduction to the process of participation; the need for a variety of
participatory mechanisms; the relationship between fairness and transparency
of the process; the relationship between participation and accountability
and participation in accountability. The publication of the monograph was
supported by the Ford Foundation.

Conscientious Objection: Protecting Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights

Judith Bueno de Mesquita and Louise Finer

Healthcare providers' conscientious objection to involvement in certain
procedures is grounded in the right to freedom of religion, conscience and
thought. However, such conscientious objection can have serious implications
for the human rights of healthcare users, including their sexual and
reproductive health rights. This briefing paper examines the implications of
conscientious objection, by healthcare providers, for the protection of
sexual and reproductive health rights, and concludes with a set of
recommendations for States' policies and laws.

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