The UN Special Rapporteur

IFHHRO actively supports the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on the   enjoyment of the highest attainable standards of physical and mental health, also known as the Right to Health. In 2002, the United Nations appointed for the first time a Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health, Prof. Paul Hunt from New Zealand. He was requested to work in cooperation with States, inter-governmental organisations and civil society; to report on the status of the Right to Health around the world; and to make recommendations on appropriate measures to promote and protect this human right.

In August 2008, Anand Grover, a human rights lawyer from India, was appointed the new Special Rapporteur by the UN Human Rights Council.

The main objectives of the Special Rapporteur are to raise the profile of the Right to Health as a fundamental human right; to clarify what the Right to Health means; and to identify ways of operationalising this human right. The Special Rapporteur reports annually to the UN Human Rights Council and to the UN General Assembly. During the two terms Paul Hunt served as Special Rapporteur (2002-2008), IFHHRO collaborated with him and his colleagues on numerous occasions.

In April 2009 IFHHRO launched the booklet The UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health: A Guide for Civil Society. It was developed to aid civil society actors in becoming more involved in the work of the Special Rapporteur. Throughout the Guide there is a specific focus on the valuable role that health workers can play.

Hard copies of this guide can be ordered by sending a message to the IFHHRO Secretariat. Please indicate the address to which the publication should be sent, the number of copies requested and some explanation on in which way the guide will be used.

Although this guide can be downloaded and ordered free of charge, we welcome any donations to support IFHHRO in producing future publications.

Reports of the  UN Special Rapporteur