Health, human rights and Australia's foreign policies.

Are Sexual and Reproductive Health Policies Designed for All? Vulnerable Groups in Policy Documents of Four European Countries and Their Involvement in Policy Development

Background Health policies are important instruments for improving population health. However, experience suggests that policies designed for the whole population do not always benefit the most vulnerable. Participation of vulnerable groups in the policy-making process provides an opportunity for them to influence decisions related to their health, and also to exercise their rights. This paper ...

Human Rights in US Foreign Policy

Health impact assessment, human rights and global public policy: a critical appraisal.

Public policy decisions in both the social and economic spheres have enormous impact on global public health. As a result of this, and of the skewed global distribution of power and resources, health impact assessment (HIA) potentially has a key role to play in foreign policy-making and global public policy-making. Governments, multilateral bodies and transnational corporations need to be held ...

Australia's international health relations in 2003

A survey for the year 2003 of significant developments in Australia's official international health relations, and their domestic ramifications, is presented. The discussion is set within the broader context of Australian foreign policy. Sources include official documents, media reports and consultations with officers of the Department of Health and Ageing responsible for international linkages.

Commentary: 'rights-based approaches' to health policies and programmes: why are they important to use?

Clients of foreign aid in developing countries have long been 'served', but have they been well served as human rights-holders? This commentary discusses why it is important to pursue rights based approaches for health programs, especially those intended to serve low income populations, especially in the developing world.