Pandemics and Politics: A Right to Health Perspective

Human rights are key in shaping pandemic response—rights-based responses can drive better health outcomes, ensuring universal access to healthcare and preserving human dignity. However, as the world continues to grapple with pandemics, including HIV/AIDS, COVID-19, Ebola, Mpox and more, human rights norms and institutions are facing a growing crisis. This has undermined pandemic response, thus continuing to drive these devastating diseases, particularly impacting those most vulnerable. 

The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to health, Dr. Tlaleng Mofokeng, will speak about the ways that the right to health can be mobilized during pandemics to improve the wellbeing of the most marginalized and improve population health, even amidst crisis.