Center for Public Health and Human Rights

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The Center for Public Health and Human Rights

The Center for Public Health and Human Rights (CPHHR) at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health seeks to advance fundamental human rights through research, teaching and advocacy.

Based in the School's Department of Epidemiology and headed by Epidemiology professor Chris Beyrer, MD, MPH, the Center's access to the vast expertise at Johns Hopkins is a vital part of our efforts in doing the analytic and development work this emerging field requires.

While many agencies and groups are active in the field of health and human rights, the Center takes a population-based approach in its work. Our research focuses on quantitative measures of human rights impacts and, increasingly, on public health intervention research grounded in human rights principles.

These diverse efforts share common ground—the use of science to support individuals and communities facing threats to health that are directly related to abrogation of their rights.

Making an Impact

Using vital data from our studies in Thailand, Russia, and several African countries, CPHHR has been working to advocate for the rights of various groups who have been discriminated against or excluded from public health surveillance and programs. Follow the links below to learn more about the CPHHR's recent advocacy work.

AOSI v USAID: Challenging Global AIDS Funding Restrictions
August 8, 2008 (Brennan Center for Justice) Read an update on the case.
Read the associated CPHHR publication by Nicole Masenoir and Dr. Chris Beyrer The US Anti-Prostitution Pledge: First Amendment Challenges and Public Health Priorities

International AIDS Conference Mexico City (August 2008)
Jonathan Mann Memorial Lecture: Sex Between Men
(Jorge Saavedra, Jose Antonio Izazola, Chris Beyrer) Watch

Voice of America: Dramatic Rise in HIV Infection Reported Among Men who have Sex with Men
August 8, 2008 interview with Dr. Chris Beyrer and others
Read the article or Listen to the interview

AIDS in Asia
August 8, 2008 interview with Dr. Chris Beyrer

amFAR Special Report: MSM, HIV and the Road to Universal Access- How Far Have We Come?
Drs. Baral, Sifakis, Beyrer, and Cleghorn made significant contributions to this report (page 9). Full report

amfAR MSM Initiative

In the News...

Center News:
Center Director Chris Beyrer was recently elected to the International AIDS Society Governing Council. He was formally inducted at the closing of the XVII International AIDS Conference, held August 2008 in Mexico City.

HIV Care for MSM Evidence from research conducted by CPHHR and its partners has indicates that men who have sex with men (MSM) are almost 20 times more likely to be infected with HIV. The findings garnered considerable attention at this year's International AIDS Conference. Read the following interviews about the new research.
Associated Press Global AIDS prevention give short shrift to gays (Aug. 9, 2008)
Washington Post Early Lessons Forgotten, AIDS Conference Told (Aug. 7, 2008)
Sydney Morning Herald's Throwing money at HIV has left many men at grave risk (Aug. 6, 2008)

New! The Nargis Archive Project is just released. This active archive contains over 700 news documents following Burma's destruction and subsequent international relief efforts and political activities. An excellent source for health and human rights workers dedicated to the Burmese cause.

National and World News:

President Bush and the First Lady traveled to Thailand last week to meet with Burmese opposition leaders and local NGOs to learn about humanitarian work to assist victims of Cyclone Nargis. The First Lady toured the Mae-La Refugee Camp and met with CPHHR partner Dr. Cynthia Maung to tour the Mae Tao Clinic. more

PEPFAR Reauthorized July 30, 2008, President Bush has reauthorized the landmark commitment by the United States to fight the global HIV/AIDS epidemic. Funding has increased to $48 billion for the next five years to support international efforts. Learn more about the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief.

The Community AIDS and Hepatitis Prevention Act was introduced by U.S. Rep. Jose Serrano on July 30, 2008, with the intention of removing all legal barriers to federal funding for state and local prevention programs that deal with harm reduction methods such as needle exchange programs. The bill was proposed based on several studies which concluded that needle exchange programs are effective in reducing HIV transmission without increasing the use of illicit drugs. Read the letter to Rep. Jose Serrano, signed by 147 national organizations in support of the bill.