Mission Statement

Center for Public Health and Human Rights

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Mission Statement

The Center for Public Health and Human Rights 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.

The Center includes public health professionals, researchers, health workers 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.

In the News...

Russia needs new HIV strategy Center Director, Dr. Beyrer, Michel Kazatchkine (Global Fund) and other HIV experts discuss the current Russian strategy and suggest proven options for HIV prevention programs. Read the AP interview.

Request for input on HIV programming for sexual minorities: We are conducting a review of all relevant programming for sexual minorities for a report to be delivered to the World Bank as a call to action to increase funding for evidence-based and comprehensive HIV prevention programming for TG, WSW, and MSM. If you have produced a report, or are aware of a well written report that describes the access to HIV prevention programs for sexual minorities, please consider sharing your findings. Contributions will be appropriately acknowledged and cited. For more information, please go to the following link of your language preference: English, French, Spanish, Portugese

Center Events: Rebuilding Health Services After War: Why Invest in Health Service in the Wake of War? with Len Rubenstein, Nov. 10 (flyer)
Other Events: Redefining Impact: Plos Medicine at 5 years (Nov. 11 at 12:15pm at JHSPH W1214) flyer.

New York Times OpEd: Len Rubenstein discusses the role of health professionals in interrogations and the future of American policy. Read

Human Rights, Risk for HIV, and MSM in Malawi IPS covers the findings from Dr. Baral's work with CEDEP in Malawi and discusses the important societal contribution of these results. Read

Lancet interview Dr. Baral discussed his findings with the Lancet's editor, Pamela Das, and explains the global aspects of the HIV epidemic among MSM. Listen Details and findings from Dr. Baral's research on HIV prevalence, risks, and human rights among men who have sex with men in Malawi, Namibia, and Botswana were recently published in PLoS. Read

After the Storm: Voices from the Delta The joint report by EAT-Burma and CPHHR was just released on February 27, 2009, in Bangkok. The only independent, community-based assessment documents the human rights violations that occurred in Burma during the response to Cyclone Nargis and continue today. Full Report Executive Summary Go to our Burma Cyclone Response page to learn more.

Health Crisis in Zimbabwe Dr. Beyrer and colleagues from Physicians for Human Rights recently traveled to Zimbabwe to conduct an assessment of the current health crisis in Zimbabwe. The report, Health in Ruins: A Man-Made Disaster in Zimbabwe, was released on January 13 in South Africa and New York. Go to our special Zimbabwe update page for updated information. Read the recent NPR interview with Dr. Beyrer or listen to the interview.

World News: International AIDS Society Urges Strong and Swift Opposition to Proposed Anti-Homosexuality Legislation in Uganda (Read) Obama Lifts AIDS Travel Ban (Read)