Germany's Experience in Supporting and Implementing Human Rights-Based Approaches to Health, plus Challenges and Successes in Demonstrating Impact on Health Outcomes.

The right to health is a human right. Every person has the right to enjoy the highest attainable standard of health. However, for many people, enjoyment of this right is far from reality—for example, many do not have access to effective and affordable medicine and treatments or to safe drinking water, adequate food, and basic sanitation. Some progress has been made, such as in women’s and children’s health: since 1990, maternal deaths have been cut by almost half.1 There have been substantial increases in preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV, in oral rehydration therapy, and in exclusive breastfeeding. Important gains have been achieved with regard to antenatal care, skilled birth attendance, and postnatal care.2 The international community is ready to further step up its efforts. Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, is a case in point: on January 26–27, 2015, the “Reach Every Child” Pledging Conference hosted by the German government was held in Berlin to replenish Gavi’s resource needs for 2016–2020. Germany alone pledged €600 million. Altogether, 31 public and private sector donors pledged over US$7.5 billion for Gavi. With this funding, Gavi will be able to immunize an additional 300 million children in developing countries by 2020, protecting them against some of the world’s deadliest diseases and saving up to six million lives. Access to adequate health care for the poor, and protection from the financial, health, and social risks associated with disease are a core element of human development and poverty reduction. The right to health is enshrined in various human rights conventions and is internationally recognized. Every country that has ratified the relevant covenants must respect, protect, and guarantee the right to health.3 The basic causes of morbidity and mortality in developing countries arise from the failure to meet commitments relating to the human right to health.4 However, supporting the efforts of poor countries to fulfill their state duty to realize the human right to health remains an ongoing challenge and a priority for the international community. Human rights are a guiding principle for German development cooperation.5 They play a significant role in all priority areas—such as equal rights for women, land and water rights for indigenous peoples, affordable health services, and access to education for the poor.6