Health and Human Rights Course from January 10-19, 2011

An intensive course exploring linkages between health and human rights and building skills in rights based monitoring and use of international and national instruments, designed for health and human rights activists. The course is organised by CEHAT and University of Mumbai, Department of Civics and Politics.

ABOUT THE COURSE

This intensive 10 days residential course focuses on the relationship between health and human rights. The course identifies and discusses the complex interactions between health and human rights. The key areas covered by the course are:

• The implications of human rights for public health theory and practice.
• The effect of health policies and programs on human rights
• Health consequences of human rights violations
• The linkage and synergies between promoting and protecting health and human rights
• Monitoring health and human rights

This course is designed to provide an overview of the nature and role of national and international norms, processes and institutions with respect to health and human rights issues. The course will include responses of the national and international political and legal order to some of the pressing issues of health and human rights. It will explore the dialectical relation between the pursuit of national interest by the governments and the rhetoric of global objectives by the agencies that include health or human rights within their mandates.

AIM

The overall aim of the course is to prepare participants to understand and interact with the local, national and international systems relating health and human rights and to impart them with knowledge to further these concerns in their respective areas of work by applying a right-based approach.

1. To understand that Health is not simply a medical issue based on natural and biological factors and medical interventions but is also a social issue.
2. To comprehend (a) human rights standards as expressed in nationally and internationally agreed texts; (b) the supervisory mechanisms which encourage compliance; and (c) the ways in which respect for human rights is fostered in practical terms.
3. To acquire knowledge of how health professionals can protect and respect human rights.

OUTCOMES

1. Participants will acquire a basic understanding of both the history and present status of human rights and law as they apply to public health practice.
2. They will be able analyze the human rights dimensions of public health policies and programme and access various mechanisms and procedures to further human rights of persons whose health status is threatened.

MODULE OF THE COURSE

Module 1 Introduction to human rights

1. Philosophy and theory of human rights
2. Historical perspective of human rights
3. International covenants on human rights

Module 2 Introduction to health

1. Political economy of health and health care
2. Public health
3. Health financing
4. Health care-universal access and equity

Module 3 Exploring health and human rights - vulnerable groups

1. Gender and reproductive rights
2. Sexual minorities and human rights
3. Health impact on persons with psychological disabilities
4. Right to essential drugs
5. Physical disability and violation of rights
6. Right to food
7. Children and human rights violations
8. Health consequences of conflict situations and violation of rights
9. Health impacts of human rights violations on dalits and adivasis
10. Medical ethics and human rights
11. Torture and human rights
12. Right to environment and water

Module 4 Monitoring right to health and health care

1. Basic elements of human rights monitoring and fact-finding
2. Monitoring right to health care
3. Overview of budgets and monitoring
4. Patients’ rights and community based monitoring

Medium of the course: English

Eligibility: Graduation in any discipline

REGISTRATION FEES

Registration Fee Rs.6000/-. The cost of food and accommodation will be borne by us. (Traveling expenses have to be borne by the participants.)

VENUE

Department of Civics & Politics, University of Mumbai, Kalina Campus, Santacruz (E.), Mumbai- 4000098.

ACCOMMODATION

ICSSR Guest House, Vidyanagari, University of Mumbai, Kalina Campus, Santacruz (E.), Mumbai- 4000098

METHODOLOGY

The teaching methods will be a combination of lectures, group work, self/-group study, case studies, presentations and discussions in plenary. The main emphasis will be on participatory approaches.

ABOUT ORGANISERS

Centre for Enquiry into Health and Allied Themes (CEHAT)

CEHAT, the research center of Anusandhan Trust, stands for research, action, service and advocacy in health and allied themes. Socially relevant and rigorous academic health research and action at CEHAT is for the well being of the disadvantaged masses, for strengthening people’s health movements and realizing right to health care.

University of Mumbai

The Department of Civics and Politics, University of Mumbai, established in 1948 and is one of the oldest in the country. The Department has been a pioneer in promoting teaching and research in Political Science and interdisciplinary area. In view of the pre – eminent reputation that the Department enjoys it has been the recipient of special assistance from University Grants Commission. The Department conducts M.A. (Hons), MPhil, PhD programmes as well as one year PG Diploma courses in Human Rights, Consumer Protection, Women’s Studies, Public Policy, Environment and Development and International Studies.

CONTACT PERSONS

Dr. Kannamma Raman, kannamma24@gmail.com

Ms. Nidhi Sharma, treasuresharma@yahoo.com