Introduction: Global Health and Human Rights

Abstract

This introductory chapter seeks to define the relationship between global health and human rights and examine the evolving field of health and human rights. Global health and human rights are complementary approaches to defining and advancing human health and well-being. Where global health prioritizes the improvement of public health and health equity for all people, human rights provide a legal foundation to advance justice in global health—elaborating the rights and freedoms that are necessary for human dignity. The inextricable linkages between global health and human rights have given rise to the development of the interdisciplinary field of “health and human rights.” In providing an academic foundation for the field, it will be necessary to understand the normative development, policy implementation, contemporary application, and new challenges at the intersection of global health and human rights. This critical engagement provides hope in responding to current threats.