Summary

The present report outlines some of the activities that the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health has undertaken since his first interim report to the General Assembly (A/58/427).

In section I, the Special Rapporteur contributes to the tenth anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development (Cairo, 1994) by considering sexual and reproductive health through the prism of the right to health. At least three of the eight Millennium Development Goals are directly related to sexual and reproductive health. The Special Rapporteur takes the view that the rights to sexual and reproductive health have an indispensable role to play in the struggle against intolerance, gender inequality, HIV/AIDS and poverty, and he recommends that increased attention be devoted to a proper understanding of reproductive health, reproductive rights, sexual health and sexual rights.

In section II, the Special Rapporteur explores the relationship between the right to health and poverty reduction. While Niger’s Poverty Reduction Strategy is used as a case study, much of the analysis applies equally to other poverty reduction strategies. The Special Rapporteur argues that the right to health can reinforce and enhance poverty reduction strategies.

Section III provides a brief update on the Special Rapporteur’s work regarding neglected diseases and the 10/90 “gap”. In accordance with Commission resolution 2003/28, section IV provides some short remarks on the right to health and violence prevention.