HRW calls on authorities to address racial inequalities in access to healthcare News
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HRW calls on authorities to address racial inequalities in access to healthcare

Human Rights Watch (HRW) renewed its call for governments to address racial discrimination and inequalities in healthcare, in a statement issued on Monday. 

In the statement, HRW cited General Recommendation No. 37 of the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD), concerning racial discrimination and the right to health. The NGO had previously submitted several proposals for the draft, many of which were incorporated into the final recommendation. 

Although non-binding, the recommendation outlines various measures for governments to tackle racial inequalities and discrimination in healthcare. These measures include ensuring access to necessities such as safe drinking water, food, and housing, promoting healthy working conditions, and addressing environmental changes. It also highlights the role of gender and disproportionate health risks faced by “women, girls and gender-diverse persons belonging to racial and ethnic groups,” as well as the health related consequences of international humanitarian crises and conflicts. 

HRW underscored the crucial role of social determinants of health (SDH)—non-medical factors like income, employment stability, access to education, and availability of clean water and housing—in driving health disparities among marginalized groups, especially the close linkage between SDH and racial disparities. According to the World Health Organization, these social determinants account for 30 to 55 percent of health outcomes and disparities.

Last, the statement emphasized the ongoing need for measures to address racial inequalities in healthcare and ensure equal access to quality medical treatment and services.

The right to health is a fundamental principle in international human rights law. It was first recognized in the World Health Organization’s Constitution in 1946 and has been reaffirmed in several key international agreements, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1966). Despite the existence of these legal frameworks, the WHO reported that racial discrimination and inequality continue to hinder access to healthcare for marginalized, ethnic, and indigenous communities. As a result, these groups often face poor health outcomes and limited access to quality care and services.

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