Right to Health

One of the fundamental rights of human being is to have the highest attainable health services. “The right to health is enshrined in the International Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), to which Bangladesh acceded in 1998”, stated in the report done by National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of Bangladesh.

The report also mentioned, “Access to health care and the right to health may be explicitly or implicitly denied through laws, religion, social institutions and cultural traditions. Stigma and discrimination negatively impact upon access to essential healthcare services by marginalized groups, including people living with HIV and people of diverse sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI). The cumulative impact of these factors is that marginalized groups are often driven underground and disproportionately affected by health conditions. This in turn has broader social and economic consequences, as poor health impedes upon a persons’ ability to work, to contribute towards society, and to support their family.”

Right to health was one of NRRC’s high priority areas in 2011 and played an important role in promoting and protecting health in Bangladesh.

To know more: The Right to health and sexual orientation and gender identity, National Human Rights Commission of Bangladesh.