The International Human Right to Health

Southern University Law Review, Vol. 22, pp. 1-68, 1994

53 Pages Posted: 20 Jun 2008

See all articles by Steven D. Jamar

Steven D. Jamar

Institute for Intellectual Property and Social Justice; Howard University School of Law

Abstract

This article examines the sources of the human right to health and traces the contours of it. It seeks to develop a standard against which conduct of states can be measured. The author articulates two standards. One is the aspirational, political version of the right under which the state is to do what it can do to advance the health of the people. The other is a narrowly defined right which can be enforced in court. This narrowly defined right includes both a negative aspect (the state must refrain from doing things which negatively affect the health of the people) and an affirmative aspect. The affirmative right is that the right to health imposes a duty on a state to intervene or to act, to the extent of its available resources, to prevent or reduce or address serious threats to the health of individuals or the population.

Keywords: international human rights, health

Suggested Citation

Jamar, Steven D., The International Human Right to Health. Southern University Law Review, Vol. 22, pp. 1-68, 1994, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1093085

Steven D. Jamar (Contact Author)

Institute for Intellectual Property and Social Justice ( email )

Washington, DC
United States

HOME PAGE: http://iipsj.org

Howard University School of Law ( email )

2900 Van Ness Street NW
Washington, DC 20008
United States

HOME PAGE: http://law.howard.edu

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