S.Four New Challenges, 15 Health and Human Rights through Development: The Right to Development, Rights-Based Approach to Development, and Sustainable Development Goals

Abstract

This chapter examines the evolution of sustainable human development as central to health governance, drawing on international human rights norms and standards to establish a human rights-based approach to development. The progression of economic development theories and the international development agenda has led to a discernible paradigm shift in considering development to be a human right. This right to development holds promise in contributing to global health and influencing the Sustainable Development Agenda—positing a rights-based approach to international development cooperation. Bilateral and multilateral development policies and practices have begun to make some progress in implementing a human rights-based approach to development, but the mutually reinforcing goals of health, human rights, and development must be integrated in governance. Global health governance stands to benefit from applying a human rights framework for sustainable human development, yet obstacles remain in realizing the health-related Sustainable Development Goals and advancing the right to development.