Mission Statement

The Center for Public Health and Human Rights brings an interdisciplinary approach to advance human rights.  It investigates the impact of human rights abrogation on the health of populations and develops rights-based approaches to public health challenges. We endeavor to bring the tools of population-based sciences to bear on complex health and rights interactions. And it brings human rights law to bear on some of the great challenges to human dignity and public health, from exclusion of marginalized people from services to the protection of health workers in war to the prevention of torture.

The Center includes public health professionals, researchers, health workers, lawyers and advocates dedicated to improving health and promoting social justice through education, research and advocacy in accordance with the International Declaration of Health Rights.

We recognize the role that repressive laws and social discord play in the health of populations and work to implement evidence-based approaches in the development of public health interventions. It is our mission to conduct and translate research into practical policy alternatives which can foster health and dignity.