UNITED
NATIONS
E
Economic and Social
Council
Distr.
GENERAL
E/C.12/2000/4
11 August 2000
Original: ENGLISH
COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL
AND CULTURAL RIGHTS
Twenty-second session
Geneva, 25 April-12 May 2000
Agenda item 3
SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES ARISING IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
THE INTERNATIONAL COVENANT ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL
AND CULTURAL RIGHTS
General Comment No. 14 (2000)
The right to the highest attainable standard of health (article 12 of the
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights)
1.
Health is a fundamental human right indispensable for the exercise of other human rights.
Every human being is entitled to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health
conducive to living a life in dignity. The realization of the right to health may be pursued
through numerous, complementary approaches, such as the formulation of health policies, or the
implementation of health programmes developed by the World Health Organization (WHO), or
the adoption of specific legal instruments. Moreover, the right to health includes certain
components which are legally enforceable.1
2.
The human right to health is recognized in numerous international instruments.
Article 25.1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights affirms: “Everyone has the right to a
standard of living adequate for the health of himself and of his family, including food, clothing,
housing and medical care and necessary social services”. The International Covenant on
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights provides the most comprehensive article on the right to
GE.00-43934 (E)