Human Rights Day

 On 10 December every year, the world observes Human Rights Day , commemorating the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948. This landmark document enshrines the fundamental rights and freedoms that belong to every person, including the right to health and well-being. In the Eastern Mediterranean Region, where communities face overlapping challenges – from conflicts and displacement to climate-related emergencies – the protection and promotion of health rights, particularly those of marginalized and vulnerable populations, is an urgent priority. “Last year, WHO marked World Health Day 2024 with the call My Health, My Right—a reminder that health is a universal right, not a privilege. That message carries even more weight today as we commemorate Human Rights Day 2025 under the global theme Our Everyday Essentials . This campaign underscores that human rights are practical, achievable guarantees of safety, dignity and ...

  1. Health is a fundamental human right indispensable for the exercise of other human rights. Every human being is entitled to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health conducive to living a life in dignity. The realization of the right to health may be pursued through numerous, complementary approaches, such as the formulation of health policies, or the implementation of health programmes developed by the World Health Organization (WHO), or the adoption of specific legal instruments. Moreover, the right to health includes certain components which are legally enforceable.  2. The human right to health is recognized in numerous international instruments. Article 25.1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights affirms: “Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services”. The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural...