Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Center for Public Health and Human Rights

The Center for Public Health and Human Rights at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health combines the tools of public health with advocacy to promote the rights of the world’s most disadvantaged people. Over the last four years, MacArthur has supported the Center’s work to end impunity for acts of violence against health workers, facilities, and patients in situations of conflict and political volatility. Activities under this final award include a) advocacy to gain international support through a new resolution at the World Health Assembly (WHA), that requires the WHO to systematically collect and report data on attacks on health care workers within a human rights framework; and b) completion of pilot testing of its mobile application for data collection. The award is a tie-off grant as the Human Rights program area winds down support for activities addressing civilians in conflict.

The Center for Public Health and Human Rights of the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health works to advance fundamental human rights through research, teaching, and advocacy. The goal of this grant is to strengthen mechanisms to enable both indigenous and international human rights organizations, health advocacy groups, governments, and others to address attacks on health facilities, health workers, and patients during periods of armed or civil conflict and political unrest.

The Center for Public Health and Human Rights of the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health works to advance fundamental human rights through research, teaching, and advocacy. The goal of this grant is to strengthen mechanisms to enable both indigenous and international human rights organizations, health advocacy groups, governments and others to address attacks on health facilities, health workers, and patients during periods of armed or civil conflict. During the grant period, the Center will: a) develop an effective instrument for documenting attacks on health functions during conflict that can be employed by local human rights organizations, health providers, and international agencies responsible for human rights monitoring; b) strengthen international reporting of the attacks on health, including developing a system of reporting through action by the World Health Organization; c) strengthen accountability mechanisms for perpetrators of attacks on the health of civilians; and d) advance strategies for preventing assaults on civilian health in collaboration with the International Committee of the Red Cross and, specifically, the American Red Cross.