1. Human Rights: Why is it a Doctor’s Business?
Ranit Mishori, MHD, MHS, FAAFP, Professor of Family Medicine, Georgetown University School of Medicine

2. Disclosures
I am a paid consultant for Physicians for Human Rights, as part of the program on Sexual Violence in Conflict Zones; the MediCapt program and the Asylum Network.

3. Objectives (1) Discuss health consequences of human rights violations
Review human rights concerns around the world
Understand how your clinical, public health and advocacy skills can be used to respond to human rights violations

4. Objectives (2)
Consider opportunities to participate in human rights work in the US and internationally

5. Have you …. Worked with refugees, immigrants, asylees?
Gone on global health missions or electives?
Worked in clinics serving the underserved?
Done a prison health elective?
Worked on ‘social justice’ issues?

6. What have you seen?

7. Social Determinants

9. Human Rights Moral principles that apply to everyone
Universal consensus that all persons have the right to live lives filled with dignity
A set of international laws, treaties and declarations
Governments bear a duty toward individuals to respect, protect, and fulfill their human rights, and that they are accountable when they fail in their obligations.

11. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)
Article 25: The Right to Health
(1) Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.
Article 5: No Torture Article 8: Right to Justice Through the Law
Article 14: Right to Seek Asylum from Persecution
Article 13: the right to freedom of movement
Article 20: Right to Peaceful Assembly & Association
Article 24, the right to leisure and rest
Article 36: the right to education, Article 23: the right to be employed

13. Cohen, Ezer 2013

14. Human Rights Based Approach to Health (HRBA)
Core Principles:
World in which everyone lives with dignity, freedom, justice, equality, and peace.
Elimination of all forms of discrimination
Gender mainstreaming is a key strategy to achieving gender equality and eliminating all forms of discrimination on the basis of sex.

15. Human Rights Based Approach to Health
Realizing the right to health & other health-related human rights.
Health policy making and programming are to be guided by human rights standards and principles
Developing capacity of duty bearers to meet their obligations
Empowering rights-holders to effectively claim their health rights.

16. Key Principles HRBA to Health
Availability
Accessibility
Acceptability
Quality of Facilities and Services
Hunt et al WHO (2013)
Participation
Equality and non-discrimination
Accountability

17. Maternal Health

18. Prison Health

19. Torture

20. GB Violence

21. LGBT

22. Forensic Investigations
Colombia extra judicial killing; mass graves in afghanistan

23. Asylum Evaluations

24. Health Care Facilities

25. Why Should Health Professionals Get Involved in Human Rights?
health professionals, with their specialized skills, ethical duties, and credible voices, are uniquely positioned to stop human rights violations.
Human Rights abuse -- >> Health consequences
Credibility & Power of profession
Support of colleagues
Treatment movement
Research needs
Science -- Irrefutable evidence

27. The Declaration of Professional Responsibility
Asks physicians to use their skills beyond the bounds of the traditional patient-physician relationship in responding to exceptional global conditions and need for care.
Preamble concludes by stating, on behalf of all physicians, that "humanity is our patient."

28. What We (YOU!) Can Do SD-TASR Screen Document Treat Advocate
Support Colleagues
Research

29. Opportunities and Organizations

31. Physicians for Human Rights
PHR chapters
Asylum Network
Advocacy Campaigns
Research and investigations
Education

32. Thank you!
Questions?
Ranit Mishori