Megan Scharner, 17 May 2016, Session 5

Section 1: Global Health Challenges

 The health problems plaguing our world today have demonstrated that lower-income
populations are more at-risk for morbidity and mortality. These populations not only have
little to no resources (needed to prevent disease, access health care, ect.), but no enforced
and secured rights. Thus, a health disparity between wealthy nations with free people and
poor nations, which are composed of people with few rights.
 Lack of attention to human rights had lead to consequences in regards to public health
and the mortality and morbidity of many people.
 Structural violence within countries, as exemplified by the resentment towards Haitian
workers in the Dominican Republic, poses a large threat to the health of people. As
people are discriminated against and denied basic rights, their economic status quickly
declines and maintains itself at an alarmingly low standard. As a result of economic and
political disparities, the people affected by structural violence are denied their right to
health, and suffer from great health-related consequences.
Section 2: Responses, Constraints and Limitations
 The Declaration of Human Rights, among other declarations for the equality of all
people, have made strides ideologically. The problem is, though, that there is no
mechanism by which these declarations can be enforced. Although the world may believe
that all are equal, litigation and public policy worldwide do not follow this train of
thought. As a result, health disparities continue to exist.
 Focus has been put on treating illnesses, as compared to attacking the root of many health
problems: limited access to human rights.
 Though this structural violence is acknowledged, it is hard to fight. Breaking the cycle of
structural violence implies breaking the perpetuating cycle of poverty (to a certain
extent), which proves itself to be a hard beast to tame.
Section 3: Future Responses
 In future responses to eradicate this health disparity, focus should be emphasized on the
acceptance of all people. Through this greater understanding, economic opportunity for
growth will arise for previously underrepresented and poor people, and as a result, the
health status of the public will improve.
 If more focus is put on allowing underrepresented populations to access their basic,
human rights, then many risks and causes for public health problems will be eradicated.
 In order to break the cycle of structural violence, awareness and acceptance must be
spread throughout the world. In gaining awareness of the problems plaguing our world,
the desire to break the cycle of structural violence will grow. Through public policy,
efforts to increase the education of both the victims and perpetrators of structural
violence will increase, thus increasing the opportunity for more upward social and
economic mobility in our world. As history has shown, this higher social and economic
class will allow previously discriminated-against and poor people to not only access
better health care, but also live in a world that suffers from less health problems plaguing
the world.
 In focusing on underrepresented populations in regards to health care and public policy,
the overall health of the world’s population will increase, as these populations are those
that need the most attention. In decreasing structural violence against these people,
among other barriers, not only will their health improve, but also their well being.
 Works Cited
Benetar, Solomon R. “Global Disparities in Health and Human Rights: A Critical Commentary.”
American Journal of Public Health 88.2 (1998): 295-300. Web.
“25 Questions & Answers on Health & Human Rights.” Health & Human Rights Publication
Series 1 (2002): 1-32. Web.
“Linkages Between Health and Human Rights.” World Health Organization. Web.
Tarantola, D., Byrnes, A., Johnson, M., Kemp, L., Zwi, AB., and Gruskin, S. “Human Rights,
Health and Development.” The University of New South Wales. 1-27. Web.
Simmons, David. “Violence as Social Practice: Haitian Agricultural Workers, Anti-Haitianism,
and Health in the Dominican Republic.” Human Organization 69.1 (2010): 10-18. Web.