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Joint Statement

International Council of Nurses (ICN)
International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP)
World Medical Association (WMA)

Proposal for A UN Special Rapporteur on
the Integrity and Independence of Health Professionals
 

Thank you for the opportunity to speak on behalf of the International Council of Nurses, International Pharmaceutical Federation, and World Medical Association. Nurses, pharmacists and physicians are key players in the health team - delivering health care to individuals, families and communities regardless of their colour, creed, gender, religion or political affiliation. On behalf of our three organisations, I would like to express our support for the UN High Commission for Human Rights in its initiatives to ensure respect for human rights for all people, including health professionals.

As health professionals, we believe that health and human rights can not be separated, since health is not possible for those whose fundamental rights are violated. We are therefore proposing that a UN Special Rapporteur be established to monitor and ensure the independence and integrity of health professionals to provide care to all people.

This is the third consecutive year that we submit this joint proposal, which we feel is worthy and requires attention. In recognition of budget constraints, we are recommending that the remit of an existing Special Rapporteur perhaps be expanded to include the surveillance and action on human rights violations related to health professionals.

Health professionals have an ethical duty to serve humanity in times of peace, during conflict and in disaster, to care for those that have been tortured, and those that are sick and dying, regardless of their political affiliation. It is incompatible with their professional duty for health care providers to be directed by governments as to who they can or cannot treat. Indeed it is against our ethical codes to discriminate on the basis of colour, gender, creed, religion, social status or political affiliation. To deny health care to anyone on these grounds would be a gross violation of professional conduct and subject to severe measures, including de-registration.
 

Health professionals often suffer reprisals for providing treatment and counselling to those whose human rights have been violated. Governments that do not respect human rights often use torture as one of their methods of coercion. Torture victims require treatment by health professionals, who in turn often themselves become the victims of further attacks and reprisals. As we speak, health professionals in European and several other countries are being harassed, imprisoned and  tortured because they have treated patients who belong to other political parties.

It is paradoxical that health professionals suffer reprisals for providing treatment and care to people. It is unacceptable that they are often prevented from providing care, are tortured, imprisoned, banished or killed in the line of duty. It is equally disturbing that health facilities and health profession training institutions are too often targeted for wanton destruction.

Accordingly, we call on the UN High Commission for Human Rights, governments, non-governmental organisations and others to give their full support for the establishment of a UN Special Rapporteur charged to ensure the independence and integrity of health professionals in  providing care to all people.
 

April 2000
 

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