"Finding innovative solutions to health and development inequalities in a dynamic university environment"
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New opportunities and risks associated with human development, the widening gaps between health needs of vulnerable populations and responses to these needs, emerging public health threats and widespread movements of people through labour and other forms of migration as a consequence of economic pressure, climate changes, conflicts and natural disasters, are key issues for the new millennium. Increasingly, the mutually reinforcing interactions between health, development and human rights are being used to analyse and address these emerging issues guided by national laws and international treaties.
Despite the apparent intuitive connections between health, development and human rights, the bridging of these fields is relatively new, unchartered, and needing research. The UNSW Initiative for Health and Human Rights (IHHR) is the first of its kind to examine the interface of the above three important global topics - Health, Development and Human Rights and explore ways to enhance synergies across these three domains.
In 2005, the University of New South Wales (UNSW), established a Chair in Health and Human Rights. An important feature of the newly created Professorship in Health and Human Rights is the supportive and catalytic role it endeavors to play with regards to the three UNSW Faculties who jointly expressed interest in, and commitment to, health and human rights: the Faculties of Arts and Social Science, Law and Medicine. In September 2005, the three Faculties established the UNSW Initiative for Health and Human Rights as the first ever academic, multidisciplinary initiative on health and human rights, expanded since then to include human development. Bringing together knowledge, experience and methods from the fields of social sciences, law and health, IHHR aims at advancing health, development and human rights as both an area of study and a new, composite method of research.
The IHHR is developing integrated strategies to examine the intersection between health, development and human rights from new viewpoints. This work serves as the foundation for an interdisciplinary and international research network. The results are used to strengthen civil society efforts to apply best practices in health, development and human rights.
Aims
- To advance the understanding of a mutually reinforcing interaction between health, development and human rights through research and teaching;
To develop capacity to research, document and debate health, development and human rights issues within Australia, the Asia-Pacific region and globally.
The UNSW IHHR contends that progress in health, human development and the realisation of all human rights act in synergy. When combined, they can define a pathway towards greater equality in health, wellbeing and dignity.
The work of the IHHR is based on the following assumptions:
- Progress in any of the domains of health, development and human rights results in mutual positive correlations;
- Breaches of human rights have detrimental consequences on physical and mental health;
- Equality, non-discrimination and dignity are key characteristics of human rights, and are central to improving health and development;
- Attention to human rights in health and to health in human rights will produce the most effective combined outcomes; and
- Quality research can define structural and social changes necessary to advance health, development and human rights.
Moving Forward
The UNSW IHHR is committed to working across disciplines and borders to develop innovative approaches and solutions to real-world problems. It aims to improve the health and wellbeing of people in Australia, the Asia-Pacific and globally by strengthening the capacity of governmental, non-governmental and academic institutions to apply health, development and human rights norms and standards to policy, programmes and practice.
The Initiative advances its agenda through Research, Education and Training, Service and Advocacy. It builds on contributions from students, organisations, health practitioners, human rights practitioners, policy makers and civil society, in particular members of communities who are denied access to health and human rights.
Bringing together knowledge, experience and methods from the fields of Social Sciences, Law and Health.
