Health in foreign policy

Abstract

In correctly identifying health as the most important foreign policy issue of our time (Oct 21, p 1395),1Horton R Iraq: time to signal a new era for health in foreign policy.Lancet. 2006; 368: 1395-1397Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (16) Google Scholar Richard Horton has not prescribed the remedy—respect for international law. The invasion of Iraq certainly violated the spirit of international law by defying the expressed views of the Security Council, and many impartial observers including the UN Secretary General insist the invasion was illegal.2MacGaskill E Borger J Iraq war was illegal and breached UN charter, says Annan. The Guardian Sept 16, 2004.http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1305709,00.htmlGoogle Scholar Additionally, the failure to implement a secure occupation so abject that it has resulted in civil war amounts to a war crime. Now the impunity those responsible expect to enjoy leaves the world in greater peril by encouraging copycat pre-emptive strikes—Pakistan and India come to mind.General Comment 14 (paragraph 39) of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights3United NationsThe right to the highest attainable standard of health. UN, Geneva2000http://www.unhchr.ch/tbs/doc.nsf/(symbol)/E.C.12.2000.4.En?OpenDocumentGoogle Scholar specifically requires states to respect, and discourage other states or international organisations from violating, health rights in other countries. Although General Comments are soft law2MacGaskill E Borger J Iraq war was illegal and breached UN charter, says Annan. The Guardian Sept 16, 2004.http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1305709,00.htmlGoogle Scholar owing to their advisory status, they form the nearest thing at the UN to case law used in court-based jurisprudence.Democratic governments are no less culpable when violating international law than totalitarian regimes, but the responsibility can be more devolved. The bottom line is that there can be no democracy without responsibility. Electorates must ensure the governments they elect respect international law and punish perpetrators.I had a role in the development of General Comment 14 of the International Covenant of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. In correctly identifying health as the most important foreign policy issue of our time (Oct 21, p 1395),1Horton R Iraq: time to signal a new era for health in foreign policy.Lancet. 2006; 368: 1395-1397Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (16) Google Scholar Richard Horton has not prescribed the remedy—respect for international law. The invasion of Iraq certainly violated the spirit of international law by defying the expressed views of the Security Council, and many impartial observers including the UN Secretary General insist the invasion was illegal.2MacGaskill E Borger J Iraq war was illegal and breached UN charter, says Annan. The Guardian Sept 16, 2004.http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1305709,00.htmlGoogle Scholar Additionally, the failure to implement a secure occupation so abject that it has resulted in civil war amounts to a war crime. Now the impunity those responsible expect to enjoy leaves the world in greater peril by encouraging copycat pre-emptive strikes—Pakistan and India come to mind. General Comment 14 (paragraph 39) of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights3United NationsThe right to the highest attainable standard of health. UN, Geneva2000http://www.unhchr.ch/tbs/doc.nsf/(symbol)/E.C.12.2000.4.En?OpenDocumentGoogle Scholar specifically requires states to respect, and discourage other states or international organisations from violating, health rights in other countries. Although General Comments are soft law2MacGaskill E Borger J Iraq war was illegal and breached UN charter, says Annan. The Guardian Sept 16, 2004.http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1305709,00.htmlGoogle Scholar owing to their advisory status, they form the nearest thing at the UN to case law used in court-based jurisprudence. Democratic governments are no less culpable when violating international law than totalitarian regimes, but the responsibility can be more devolved. The bottom line is that there can be no democracy without responsibility. Electorates must ensure the governments they elect respect international law and punish perpetrators. I had a role in the development of General Comment 14 of the International Covenant of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.