Principles Governing the Child's Right to Health in the International Human Rights System
Subject Areas : child rightsZahra Ebrahimi 1 , Zahra Moshrefjavadi 2
1 - Ph.D. Student in Public Law, Faculty of Law and Political Science, Allameh Tabataba’i University, Tehran, Iran
2 - Ph.D. Student in International Law, Faculty of Law and Political Science, Allameh Tabataba’i University, Tehran, Iran
Keywords: The Right to Health, Child, Government Obligations,
Abstract :
Children as the recipients of the right to health and the future of any society need the support of the government, their parents and legal guardians while entering adulthood. The Convention on the Rights of the Child has referred to the issue of child health in several articles and the Committee on the Rights of the Child has called on governments to consider childhood conditions and children's evolving capacities when fulfilling their obligations toward them. Thus, the Convention on the Rights of the Child has four core principles that underpin all children's rights: the right to life and survival, non-discrimination, the right to be heard and consideration of child’s best interests such as all human rights. Since children's right to health is a general right and encounters various challenges from the time of birth and even before that to adolescence, some principles are added to the basic principles in order to supplement the content of their right to health and complete them. The right to education, protection from abuse and misbehavior and prohibition from harmful practices and threats of the digital world are specific principles governing the definition of children's right to health. Governments need to consider this right of children in all areas and recognize children as individuals possessing rights.
1. World Health Organization, the world health report 2005: Make every mother and child count. Available at: http://www.who.int/whr/ 2005/whr2005_en.pdf?ua=1. 2008. p.7.
2. Felman A. What is good health?. Brighton (UK): Published in Medical News Today; 2017. Available at: http://www.medical newstoday.com/articles/150999.php. Last Visited October 12, 2019.
3. Habibi M. Right to Health in International Human Rights Law. Human Rights Journal Spring and Summer 1386; 2(1): 7-38. [Persian]
4. International Labor Organization. Convention No 138 on Minimum Age. 182 1973.
5. Islamic Conference. Convention rights of child in Islam; 1990. OIC/9-IGGE/HRI/2004/.
6. CRC committee. General comment No.15 (2013): On the right of the child to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health. 2013. Art.24 p.3.
7. Ghorban-nia N. The general nature of the commitment to respect human rights and the issue of reservation. Islamic Law Journal Summer 1388; 6(21): 49-80. [Persian]
8. Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). Factsheet No.33, Frequently Asked Questions on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Geneva: Printed at United Nations; 2008. p.1-2.
9. Transforming our world: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 25 September 2015, A/RES/70/1. 2015. p.14.
10. Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) & World Health Organization (WHO). Fact sheet No.31, the right to health. Geneva: Printed at United Nations; 2008. p.1, 3-4.
11. Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR). General comment, No.14, the right to the highest attainable standard of health (article 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights), E/C.12/2000/4. 2000. para.4.
12. CRC Committee. Fact Sheet No.10 (Rev.1), the Rights of the Child, first session, I. A landmark for children and their rights.Geneve. 1991. paras.2-3, 4-5, 7.
13. WHO. Fifty-sixth world health assembly, Strategy for child and adolescent health and development, A56/15. 2003.
14. Health and Human Rights Resource Guide, How is children’s health a human rights issue?. 2014. para.1. Available at: https://www. hhrguide.org/2014/03/16/how-is-childrens-health-a-human-rights-issue/. Last visited September 10, 2019.
15. Ansari B. Child’s rights to education in the international human rights law. Tehran: Shahr-e Danesh Publishing House; 1393. Vol.1 p.114-155. [Persian]
16. Hodgkin R, Newell P. Implementation handbook for the convention on the rights of the child prepared for UNICEF. 3rd ed. Geneva: UNICEF Regional Office for Europe; 2007. p.18, 38.
17. Economic and Social Council: Economic, Social and Cultural Rights/ the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health/ Report of the Special Rapporteur, E/CN.4/2003/58. 2003. p.8.
18. Office of the high commissioner human rights (OHCHR). The right of the child to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health. 2013. p.13. Available at: http://www. Pdf/OHCR_Brochure_ Report Health_2012_Eng/.
19. HR Committee. General Comment No.6. The right to life HRI/GEN/1/Rev.8. 1982. p.167 para.5.
20. CRC Committee. General Comment No.7, Implementing child rights in early childhood. CRC/C/GC/7/Rev.1. 2005. para.10.
21. CRC committee. Consideration of reports submitted by States parties under article 44 of the Convention, CRC/C/ARG/CO/3-4. 2010. p.8 para.39.
22. CRC committee. General Comment No.12: The right of the child to be heard, CRC/C/GC/12. 2009. para.101.
23. Plomer A. The Law and Ethics of Medical Research. Translated by Zali A, Abasi M. Tehran: Sina Cultural-Law Institute, Law Publishing House; 1387. Vol.1 p.151. [Persian]
24. CRC committee. General comment No.3. HIV/AIDS and the rights of the child, Thirty-second session CRC/GC/2003/3 13-31. 2003. p.6.
25. World Health Organization. Treatment of children living with HIV. Available at: http://www.who.int/hiv/topics/paediatric/en/index.html.
26. UNESCO Strategy on Education for Health and Well-Being: Contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals, ED.2016/WS/35; 2016. Available at: https://www.unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/ pf0000246453.
27. United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, International Guidelines on HIV/AIDS and Human Rights. 2006. p.36.
28. Unicef, press release: Lack of safe water and sanitation in schools jeopardizes quality education. 2005. paras.8-9. Available at: https:// www.unicef.org/media/media_24898.html.
29. Unicef: Child friendly school. Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in Schools. 2012. p.16 para.5. Available at: https://www. unicef.org/publications/files/CFS_WASH_E_web.pdf.
30. UN General Assembly. Report of the independent expert for the United Nations study on violence against children, A/61/299. 2006. para.9.
31. Noori M. Domestic Violence Against Children "What, Why and How to Treat It in the Light of Legal Efforts". Human Rights Journal (Mofid University) 1387; 3(1): 35-54. [Persian]
32. Hodgkin R, Newell P. Implementation handbook for the convention on the rights of the child, prepared for UNICEF. City: publisher; 2007. p.256 para.1.
33. OHCHR, Fact Sheet No.23, Harmful Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children. 1995. p.6 para.1.
34. Office of the high commissioner human rights (OHCHR). The right of the child to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health. 2013. p.16 paras.46-47. Available at: Pdf/OHCR_Brochure_ Report Health_2012_Eng/.
35. OECD. Children & Young People’s Mental Health in the Digital Age (Shaping the future). Paris: The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) published online; 2018. p.7. Available at: https://www.oecd.org/els/health-systems/Children-and-Young-People-Mental-Health-in-the-Digital-Age.pdf. Last visited November 5, 2019.
36. Kardefelt-Winther D. How does the time children spend using digital technology impact their mental well-being, social relationships and physical activity?. New York: Unicef Pub; 2017. p.19. Available at: https://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/pdf/Children-digital-technology-wellbeing.pdf. Last Visited November 6, 2019.
37. Sultanbayeva L, Shyryn U, Minina N, Zhanat B, Uaidullakyzy E. The Influence of Computer Games on Children's Aggression in Adolescence. World Conference on Psychology and Sociology - PSYSOC 2012. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 2013; 82(2013): 933-941.
38. WHO (regional office in Europe): Tackling food marketing to children in a digital world: Trans disciplinary perspectives. 2016. p.9. Available at: http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/32 2226/Tackling-food-marketing-children-digital-world-trans-disciplina ry-perspectives-en.pdf. Last Visited December 2, 2019.