International Journal of Health Policy and Management

International Journal of Health Policy and Management

Human Rights Discourse in the Sustainable Development Agenda Avoids Obligations and Entitlements; Comment on “Rights Language in the Sustainable Development Agenda: Has Right to Health Discourse and Norms Shaped Health Goals?”

Document Type : Commentary

Authors
Carmel Williams 1, 2
Alison Blaiklock 3
1 Francois-Xavier Bagnoud (FXB), Center for Health and Human Rights, Harvard T.H. Chan, School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
2 School of Population Health, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
3 Department of Public Health, University of Otago Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
10.15171/ijhpm.2016.29
Abstract
Our commentary on Forman et al paper explores their thesis that right to health language can frame global health policy responses. We examined human rights discourse in the outcome documents from three 2015 United Nations (UN) summits and found rights-related terms are used in all three. However, a deeper examination of the discourse finds the documents do not convey the obligations and entitlements of human rights and international human rights law. The documents contain little that can be used to empower the participation of those already left behind and to hold States and the private sector to account for their human rights duties. This is especially worrying in a neoliberal era.
Keywords
Human Rights
Right to Health
Climate Change
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
International Human Rights Law
Discourse Analysis
Neoliberalism
Subjects
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  • Received Date 29 January 2016
  • Revised Date 01 March 2016
  • Accepted Date 01 March 2016
  • First Published Date 01 June 2016
  • Published Date 01 June 2016