UN Expert Calls for Dignity to Be Central to Health Policies

The report examines health not only as a basic human right but also as a key condition that allows people to live with dignity, autonomy and equality.

Access to health services cannot be fully achieved without protecting human dignity, according to a new report presented to the United Nations Human Rights Council by Special Rapporteur on the right to health, Tlaleng Mofokeng. In her final report to the Council, Mofokeng argued that dignity should be embedded across government systems, public policies and institutional decision-making processes that influence health outcomes. She said health and dignity are deeply connected, with each relying on the other to flourish.

The report examines health not only as a basic human right but also as a key condition that allows people to live with dignity, autonomy and equality. Mofokeng stressed that healthcare systems should be designed around respect for people's rights, identities and lived experiences rather than treating dignity as an abstract principle.

Marginalised Communities Face the Greatest Impact

The report highlights how violations of dignity often contribute directly to poor health outcomes, particularly for communities that have experienced discrimination, exclusion or systemic disadvantage.

According to Mofokeng, many individuals continue to face barriers to healthcare because of social inequalities, historical injustices and policies that fail to recognise diverse experiences. She said efforts to improve health outcomes must acknowledge these realities and actively work to address them.

The report calls for stronger protections around privacy, confidentiality, equality and non-discrimination throughout healthcare systems. It also recommends that governments ensure individuals have greater control over decisions affecting their health and wellbeing.

Mofokeng emphasised that meaningful progress requires listening to those most affected by health inequalities and ensuring their voices are included in policy development.

Report Urges Governance Reforms and Greater Accountability

Among the recommendations outlined in the report is the creation of more participatory health governance structures, including community oversight mechanisms, advisory groups and inclusive budgeting processes that allow marginalised populations to contribute directly to decision-making.

The Special Rapporteur also called for the reform of laws that negatively affect public health and human rights. She argued that decriminalisation measures in certain areas are necessary to improve access to healthcare and advance the right to health for all people.

Accountability remains a central theme throughout the report. Mofokeng said governments and institutions must demonstrate a clear commitment to preventing violations of human dignity and ensuring that those affected have access to remedies and justice.

She concluded that achieving the right to health requires recognising the wide range of human experiences and confronting both past and present inequalities. Building fair and inclusive health systems, she said, depends on a shared commitment to dignity, equity and respect for every individual.