The theme of the 2017 session of the Social Forum was the promotion and protection of human rights in the context of the HIV epidemic and other communicable diseases and epidemics.

Outcome documents

• Report of the 2017 Social Forum A/HRC/37/74

Videos from the Forum

• Opening of the Social Forum keynote speakers and Geneva - Statements (video)
• Panel 1: Setting the scene: Implementing health related SDGs through a human rights perspective (video)
• Panel 2: Leaving no one behind: Discrimination and the realization of the right to health (video)
• Panel 3: Focus on people: The role of civil society in the context of epidemics (video)
• Panel 4: Focus on people: Communities leading programmes for health (video)
• Panel 5: Health care workers on the frontline (video)
• Panel 6: Building synergies for health: engaging diverse partners (video)
• Panel 7: Translating principles into action: International cooperation for global responses and national implementation (video)
• Panel 8: Translating principles into action: Access to medicines, diagnosis, vaccines and treatment in the context of the right to health (video)
• Panel 9: The way forward (video)
• Concluding Remarks from Participants and closure of the Social Forum (video)

Background

The right to health is an inclusive right encompassing both access to health services, goods and facilities and the determinants of health. Its full realization enables the realization of other human rights, including the rights to food, housing, work, education, human dignity, life, non-discrimination and equality. HIV and other communicable diseases continue to exact an enormous toll on health globally, which has an impact not only at the individual, family and community levels, but also on development. A human rights-based approach to public policy in the health and relevant sectors is imperative for the prevention and treatment of HIV and other communicable diseases, as well as for the achievement of the health-related Sustainable Development Goals.

The Social Forum explored the role of human rights in this context with a view to identifying concrete action to be taken by States and other stakeholders to ensure the promotion, protection and fulfilment of human rights.

Further information

• Programme of work of the 2017 Social Forum: English
• Side events: English
• Report of the High Level Working Group on the Health and Human Rights of Women, Children and Adolescents
• Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
  العربية | 中文 | English | Français | русский | Español
• Global Strategy on Women's, Children's and Adolescents' Health
• Human rights in the new Global Strategy
• Technical guidance on the application of a human rights-based approach to the implementation of policies and programmes to reduce preventable maternal morbidity and mortality (A/HRC/21/22).
• Technical guidance on the application of a human rights based approach to the implementation of policies and programmes to reduce and eliminate preventable mortality and morbidity of children under 5 years of age (A/HRC/27/31).
• International Guidelines on HIV/AIDS and Human Rights
  English | Français
• Report of the Global Commission on HIV and the Law : 'HIV and the Law: Risks, Rights & Health'
  English | Français | Español | русский
  Portuguese Português | Mongolian Монгол Хэл
• Political Declaration on HIV and AIDS: On the FastTrack to Accelerating the Fight against HIV and to Ending the AIDS Epidemic by 2030 (A/RES/70/266)
• Report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: Mental health and human rights (A/HRC/34/32)
• OHCHR/WHO Fact Sheet No.31 - The Right to Health
  العربية | 中文 | English | Français | русский | Español