Health and Human Rights:an example of
interdisciplinary learning and teaching
Mary Renfrew, Jerome Wright, Lucy Harding
Rafaela Stalback, Anna Tomasi, Jocelyn Ulvecus
Health and human rights
Background and introduction to the issue
The challenge
The modules
Our experiences – staff, students
Health and human rights
Background and introduction to the issue
The challenge
The modules
Our experiences – staff, students
Health and human rights
Newly emerging field Important, large scale challenges Interdisciplinary – cannot address challenges from
one perspective Theoretical perspectives developing – needs
dialogue and debate
Opportunity Research programme in maternal and infant
health, addressing inequalities Newly established Centre for Applied Human
Rights Support from VC Initiative Fund
What can human rights bring to health?
What can health bring to human rights?
Defining a ‘Right to health’
“The right to health does not mean the right to be healthy, nor does it mean that poor governments must put in place expensive health services for which they have no resources. But it does require governments and public authorities to put in place policies and action plans which will lead to available and accessible health care for all in the shortest possible time. To ensure that this happens is the challenge facing both the human rights community and public health professionals.”
Mary Robinson
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Understanding health and human rights
Understanding the reciprocal relationship between health and human rights is increasingly important to policy-makers, health care professionals, public health practitioners and human rights defenders
It presents us with opportunities and challenges, and can be a powerful tool for tackling complex and difficult health issues
But it is a new and challenging field, and debate is needed to develop thinking, and evidence is needed to demonstrate impact
Health and human rights
Background and introduction to the issue
The challenge
The modules
Our experiences – staff, students
Challenges
New development - not mainstream in either discipline
Difficult, sensitive issues mental health, maternal mortality, sexual and
reproductive health, discrimination, resource allocation
Students from very diverse backgrounds rights students from law, social science health students; health professionals, analysts
Challenges
Speaking across disciplines knowledge, language, paradigms
Presenting core of disciplines without being simplistic, appearing static
Balance of theory and applied scenarios
Balance between guest lecturers and continuity
Health and human rights
Background and introduction to the issue
The challenge
The modules
Our experiences – staff, students
Two modules
Two modules, jointly taught, enabling multidisciplinary debate and discussion between health students and human rights students
The module for Health Sciences students is 10 credits, the module for MA in Human Rights and LLM students is 20 credits: differences in expected reading and level of assessments
Both are administered by Health Sciences, but they must meet requirements for Law School/CAHR
Course structure
General introduction to theory and perspectives on H&HR; thereafter each session focuses on a different topic in family and community health in developing and developed countries
The modules incorporate case-based learning and group discussion to acquire insights and develop an understanding of the processes by which human rights can influence and improve health
L&T challenges and methods
Prep for/with guest lecturers
Reading lists appropriate for each group of students (with enough overlap)
Mix of Didactic presentations by lecturers Scenario-based discussion Student-directed discussion Student presentations – mix of disciplines
Assessment strategy
One piece of work is required 2500 words: Health Sciences students 5000 words: Human Rights, LLM students
Critical analysis and opinion of the application of a human rights framework or rights-based approach to a particular health topic or issue of the student’s choice
Health and human rights
Background and introduction to the issue
The challenge
The modules
Our experiences – staff, students
Staff experiences
1. Re-examining own discipline
2. Premising exploration
Staff experiences Interdisciplinary Teaching
Interdisciplinary teaching
1. Does teaching students from two different disciplines enhance or impede individual learning?
2. How might the lecturer most effectively enhance learning?
What can human rights bring to health?
What can health bring to human rights?
Analysis Strategies and framework for action
Empowerment Meaningful participation Non discrimination - focus on
disempowered groups Accountability
Rights-based approaches to health
Analysis – health problems underlying rights limitations
Strategies and framework for action Evidence base Health as marker of rights – eg maternal
mortality Health improvement programmes as
part of development and rights programmes
Non discrimination - focus on disempowered groups
Health-based approaches to human rights
Indivisibility of rights
Interdependence of rights
• Right to food• Right to housing• Right to water• Right to education• Right to participation• Right to life• Right to equality • Right to non-discrimination• Right to the enjoyment of the benefits of
scientific progress and its applications
• Prohibition against torture• Right to privacy• Access to information• Freedom of association• Freedom of assembly • Freedom of movement
General Comment 14 - Committee on Economic, Social & Cultural Rights
HRBAs in the NHS
1. Putting human rights principles and standards at the heart of policy & planning
2. Empowering staff and patients with knowledge, skills and leadership to achieve HRBAs
3. Enabling meaningful involvement and participation of all key stakeholders
4. Ensuring clear accountability
throughout the organisation
5. Non-discrimination and attention
to vulnerable groups
Health
Serious challenge to improve health and care when problems at scale – eg infectious diseases, maternal and infant health
Important to do the right thing (evidence-based practice and policy)
Important to address the needs of all – eg to tackle inequalities, avoid discrimination
Human Rights
‘Human Rights and dignity are self-evident, the highest aspiration of the common people, and the foundation of freedom, justice and peace’.
Preamble to the Universal Declaration on Human Rights
Health problems – common themes
Underlying causes Poverty Inequalities Lack of education Disempowerment Low priority
Limitations of public health approaches alone – and limitations of rights approaches alone
Complex cross-sectoral strategies needed eg public health, development, law, policy…
Module aims
To introduce students to the application of a human-rights framework in the field of public health
To gain insight into the structures and processes by which human rights can influence public health objectives
Throughout the course students will examine a range of public health issues using a rights-based approach, and analyse to what extent a rights-based approach is complementary, detrimental or relevant to policy and practice