Right to health in Croatia: UN expert to make first visit

GENEVA (25 November 2016) – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to health, Dainius Pūras, will visit Croatia from 28 November to 6 December 2016 to assess the realization of the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health in the country.

“This is my first visit to a European country and I look forward to learning how the most recent Member State of the European Union has advanced in the implementation of the right to health for all,” Mr. Pūras said.

During his visit, the Special Rapporteur will examine, in a spirit of cooperation and dialogue, elements of the right to health, including availability, accessibility, acceptability and quality of health services, goods and facilities.

“I will be particularly interested in addressing specific issues such as financing of the national healthcare system, access to primary healthcare, mental health, and sexual and reproductive health rights,” Mr. Pūras said.  He will further look into the situation of key populations and groups, including people on the move, children, persons with disabilities, and older persons.

At the end of the mission, the UN Special Rapporteur will share his preliminary conclusions at a press conference on 6 December at 12:00, at the UNICEF conference room,Radnička cesta 4, Zagreb. Access to the press conference is strictly limited to journalists.

Mr. Pūras will present a comprehensive report on his mission to Croatia to the UN Human Rights Council in June 2017.

ENDS

Mr. Dainius Pūras (Lithuania) was appointed by the UN Human Rights Council as Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health (right to health) in 2014. Mr. Pūras is a Professor and the Head of the Centre for Child psychiatry social pediatrics at Vilnius University, and teaches at the Faculty of Medicine, Institute of International relations and political science and Faculty of Philosophy of Vilnius University, Lithuania. Learn more, visit: http://www.ohchr.org/en/special-procedures/sr-health

The Special Rapporteurs are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures’ experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.

OHCHR Country page – Croatia:
http://ohchr.org/EN/Countries/ENACARegion/Pages/HRIndex.aspx

For press inquiries and additional information, please contact:
In Zagreb (during the visit):
Lucia de la Sierra (+41 79 444 5401)
In Geneva (before and after the visit):
Dolores Infante-Cañibano (+ 41 79 201 0122 / dinfante@ohchr.org)
Lucia de la Sierra (+ 41 22 917 9741 / ldelasierra@ohchr.org)

For media inquiries related to other UN independent experts:
Xabier Celaya, UN Human Rights – Media Unit (+ 41 22 917 9383 / xcelaya@ohchr.org)  

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