INTERVENTION BY THE DELEGATION OF INDONESIA – INTERACTIVE DIALOGUE WITH THE SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON THE RIGHT OF EVERYONE TO THE ENJOYMENT OF THE HIGHEST ATTAINABLE STANDARD OF PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH
Mr. President,
My delegation would like to thank the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health for his first report under his newly obtained mandate starting August 2014. We take note that the report contains various conceptual frameworks that will guide the work of the Special Rapporteur throughout his mandate, based on valuable works and findings from his predecessors.
In this regard, we consider that the three primary objectives under the right to health mandate identified by previous mandate holders – namely to promote the right to health as a fundamental human rights, to clarify the contours and content of the right to health, and to identify good practices – are still very valid. It is our hope that the SR’s future work will still be guided by those objectives in a balance manner.
Mr. President,
We fully support the intention of the Special Rapporteur to continue highlighting the need to reduce poverty and inequalities, including those within and between regions and countries. We are of the view that these poverty and inequalities aspects should be considered as major hampering factors for many countries in fulfilling their obligation to promote and protect right to health of their own citizen. The recent example of the Ebola crises is a wake up call connected to many elements of the right to health in all levels, namely at the national, regional and global level.
In this regard, while recognizing the primary responsibility of States to ensure a conducive environment for the full realization of the right to health, we strongly believe that the need to further enhance and strengthen international cooperation cannot be overemphasized. The crisis also pointed out the responsibility and social accountability of other actors, including pharmaceutical companies, and the need for strong leadership in addressing global health challenges.
Let me conclude by emphasizing that it is imperative for the international community to continue giving adequate attention to the ongoing discussion on the formulation of the Sustainable Development Goals. Noting that many unfinished business of the MDGs are connected to the health issues, it is our fervent hope that all of us will be able to utilize the right to health framework, as appropriate, in the new SDGs framework with a view to achieve the full realization of the right to health for all individual.
I thank you, Mr. President.
GENEVA, 17 JUNE 2015
* delivered by Ms. Mustika Hanum Widodo.
