Special Rapporteur Reports Guide
Thematic and mission reports prepared by UN Special Rapporteurs on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
Tlaleng Mofokeng, August 2020-present
Thematic reports
| Drug use, harm reduction and the right to health | Report to the Human Rights Council, June 2024 |
| Digital innovation, technologies and the right to health
| Report to the Human Rights Council, 22 June 2023 |
| Racism and the right to health | Report to the General Assembly, 20 July 2022 |
| Sexual and reproductive health rights: challenges and opportunities during the COVID–19 pandemic | Report to the General Assembly, July 16, 2021 |
| Report of the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, Tlaleng Mofokeng | Report to the Human Rights Council, April 4, 2021 |
Mission reports
Dainius Pūras, 2014–2020
Thematic reports
| Overview of the mandate. Priorities in future work. | Report to the Human Rights Council, April 2, 2015 | |
| Child survival. Early childhood development. | Report to the General Assembly, July 30, 2015 | |
| Right to health of adolescents. | Report to the Human Rights Council, April 4, 2016 | |
| Sports and healthy lifestyles. Non-state actors’ obligations. Good-practice approaches. | Report to the Human Rights Council, April 4, 2016 | |
| Sustainable development goals. | Report to the General Assembly, August 5, 2016 | |
| Right to Mental Health | Report to the General Assembly, June 6-23rd, 2017 | |
| Corruption and the Right to Health | Report to the General Assembly, July 14th, 2017 | |
| Deprivation of Liberty and the Right to Health | Report to the General Assembly, 10 April 2018 | |
| Right to mental health of people on the move | Report to the General Assembly, 27 July 2018 | |
| The role of the determinants of health in advancing the right to mental health | Report to the General Assembly, 12 April 2019 | |
| Health-care worker education based on human rights principles | Report to the General Assembly, 16 July 2019 | |
| Mental Health and Human Rights: Setting a Rights-based Global Agenda | A/74/174 | |
| Mental Health and Human Rights: Setting a Rights-based Global Agenda |
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| Final report of the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, Dainius Pūras | Report to the General Assembly, 16 July 2020 |
Mission reports
| Health system financing. Vulnerable groups. |
Report to the Human Rights Council on Mission to Malaysia, May 1, 2015 |
| Poverty and the right to health. Unsafe abortions. Sexual and reproductive health. Children deprived of liberty. Persons with disabilities. LGBT. People living with HIV/AIDS. Mental health policy. National health-care system. |
Report to the Human Rights Council on Mission to Paraguay, May 24, 2016 |
| Rehabilitation and reintegration of women and children liberated from Boko Haram captivity. |
Report to the Human Rights Council on Mission to Nigeria,vi June 15, 2016 |
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Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health Mr. Dainius Pūras Country Visit to Indonesia |
Report to the Human Rights Council on Mission to Indonesia, March, 22 2017 Report forthcoming to Council session 38 (2018), see end-of-mission statement |
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Report of the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health on his visit to Croatia, 28 November to 6 December 2016 |
Visit to Croatia, 28 November to 6 December 2016 (A/HRC/35/21/Add.2) |
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Report of the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health on his visit to Algeria, 27 April to 10 May 2016 |
Visit to Algeria 28 April-10 May 2016 (A/HRC/35/21/Add.1) |
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Report of the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health on his visit to Armenia, 25 Sept to 5 October, 2017 |
Visit to Armenia 2017 A/HRC/38/36/Add.2
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Report of the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health on his visit to Kyrgyzstan, 22-31 May, 2018 |
Visit to Kyrgyzstan A/HRC/41/34/Add.1 |
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Report of the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health on his visit to Canada (5-16 Nov 2018) |
Visit to Canada 2018 A/HRC/41/34/Add.2
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| Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development |
Report to the Human Rights Council on Mission to Equador, May 6, 2020 |
| Report of the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health |
Report to the Human Rights Council on Mission to Fiji, April 12, 2021 |
Anand Grover, 2008–2014
Thematic reports
| Access to medicines. Impact of intellectual property rights on access to medicines. | Report to the Human Rights Council, March 31, 2009 |
| Informed consent. | Report to the General Assembly, August 10, 2009 |
| Same-sex conduct, sexual orientation and gender identity. Sex work. HIV transmission. Effects of criminalization on the right to health. | Report to the Human Rights Council, April 27, 2010 |
| Impact of drug control on the right to health. Compulsory treatment for drug dependence. Access to controlled medicines. Human rights-based approach to drug control. | Report to the General Assembly, August 6, 2010 |
| Access to medicines. | Report to the Human Rights Council, March 16, 2011 |
| Development. Convergence of development, human rights and the right to health. Human rights-based approaches to development. | Report to the Human Rights Council, April 12, 2011 |
| Right to health of older persons. | Report to the Human Rights Council, July 4, 2011 |
| Impact of criminalization on sexual and reproductive health. Family planning. Education and information. | Report to the General Assembly, August 3, 2011 |
| Occupational health. | Report to the Human Rights Council, April 10, 2012 |
| Health financing and the right to health. | Report to the General Assembly, August 13, 2012 |
| Access to medicines. | Report to the Human Rights Council, May 1, 2013 |
| Right to health of migrant workers. | Report to the Human Rights Council, May 15, 2013 |
| States and non-state actors’ obligations toward persons affected by or involved in conflict situations. | Report to the General Assembly, August 9, 2013 |
| Unhealthy foods and diet-related noncommunicable diseases. | Report to the Human Rights Council, April 1, 2014 |
| Effective and full implementation of the right-to-health framework. Justiciability. Progressive realization and the enforcement of the right to health. Transnational corporations. International investment agreements. Investor-state dispute settlement. | Report to the General Assembly, August 11, 2014 |
Mission reports
| Sexual and reproductive health. Harm reduction policies for drug users. Harm reduction policies and HIV/AIDS. | Report to the Human Rights Council on Mission to Poland, May 20, 2010 |
| Right to health of indigenous peoples. Detention. | Report to the Human Rights Council on Mission to Australia, June 3, 2010 |
| Inequalities and discrimination. Indigenous peoples. Women’s right to health. Sexual and reproductive health. Violence against women. Access to medicines. | Report to the Human Rights Council on Mission to Guatemala, March 16, 2011 |
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Women’s and children’s health. Gender-based and family violence. Right to health of stateless persons and refugees. Detention. | Report to the Human Rights Council on Syrian Arab Republic, March 21, 2011 |
| Mental health. Maternal health. Malaria. Environment. Occupational health. | Report to the Human Rights Council on Mission to Ghana, April 10, 2012 |
| Access to medicines. HIV/AIDS. Criminalization of sex work and the use of drugs. Detention. | Report to the Human Rights Council on Mission to Viet Nam, June 4, 2012 |
| Tuberculosis. Mental health. Domestic violence. | Report to the Human Rights Council on Mission to Tajikistan, May 2, 2013 |
| Tuberculosis. Detention. | Report to the Human Rights Council on Mission to Azerbaijan, May 3, 2013 |
| Right to health and nuclear disaster management. | Report to the Human Rights Council on Mission to Japan, July 31, 2013 |
Paul Hunt, 2002–2008
Thematic reports
| The right to health: sources, contours, and content. The mandate holder’s key objectives, themes, and specific issues. | Report to the Commission on Human Rights, February 13, 2003 |
| Right-to-health indicators. Good practices. HIV/AIDS. Neglected diseases (and leprosy). Optional Protocol to the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. | Report to the General Assembly, October 10, 2003 |
| Sexual and reproductive health. Poverty (and Niger’s Poverty Reduction Strategy). Neglected diseases. Violence prevention. | Report to the Commission on Human Rights, February 16, 2004 |
| Millennium Development Goals. Indigenous peoples. Child survival and indicators. | Report to the General Assembly, October 8, 2004 |
| Mental disability. | Report to the Commission on Human Rights, February 11, 2005 |
| Commission on Social Determinants of Health. Health professionals and human rights education. The skills drain: migration of health professionals. | Report to the General Assembly, September 12, 2005 |
| Right to an effective, integrated health system accessible for all. Human rights-based approach to health indicators. | Report to the Commission on Human Rights, March 3, 2006 |
| Maternal mortality. Access to medicines (responsibilities of states and pharmaceutical companies). | Report to the General Assembly, September 13, 2006 |
| Health and human rights movement. Cases on the right to health and other health-related rights. | Report to the Human Rights Council, January 17, 2007 |
| Prioritization. Impact assessments. Water and sanitation. | Report to the General Assembly, August 8, 2007 |
| Health systems and the right to health. | Report to the Human Rights Council, January 31, 2008 |
| Accountability. Human Rights Guidelines for Pharmaceutical Companies in relation to Access to Medicines. | Report to the General Assembly, August 11, 2008 |
Mission reports
| Intellectual property and access to medicines.
Trade in services and the General Agreement on Trade in Services. Impact assessments. Gender and trade. Technical assistance. Trade Policy Review Mechanism Acceding countries to World Trade Organization. | Report to the Commission on Human Rights on Mission to World Trade Organization, March 1, 2004 |
| Poverty. Prevention, treatment, and control of diseases. Women’s and children’s health. Health-related policy frameworks (poverty reduction and non-discrimination). Availability, accessibility, and acceptability of health care. Health professionals. Water and sanitation. Availability of resources. | Report to the Commission on Human Rights on Mission to Mozambique, January 4, 2005 |
| Poverty, discrimination, inequality, and the right to health. Role of international community, civil society, and health professionals. Trade agreements. Environment. Mental health. Sexual and reproductive health. Ethnicity and culture (indigenous peoples). | Report to the Commission on Human Rights on Mission to Peru, February 4, 2005 |
| Participation, access to information, accountability, and health professionals. Health system financing. Corruption. Sexual and reproductive health. HIV/AIDS. Tuberculosis. Mental health. Environment. Roma. | Report to the Commission on Human Rights on Mission to Romania, February 21, 2005 |
| Neglected diseases. | Report to the Commission on Human Rights on Mission to Uganda, January 19, 2006 |
| Detention. Mental health. Ethical obligations of health professionals. Force-feeding. | Report to the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of detainees at Guantanamo Bay,i February 27, 2006 |
| Protection of civilians during and after the conflict of 2006, and the right to health. | Report to the Human Rights Council on Lebanon/Israel conflict of August 2006,ii
October 2, 2006 |
| Integration of the right to health into domestic laws and policies. Access to appropriate health care. Mental health. The Sami. Harm-reduction for drug users. Human rights education and health professionals. Asylum-seekers and undocumented foreign nationals. International obligations in relation to the right to health and development. Health indicators. Disaggregation of data. Impact assessment. | Report to the Human Rights Council on Mission to Sweden, February 28, 2007 |
| Sweden’s obligations of international assistance and cooperation in relation to the right to health. Sweden’s role in Uganda, the World Bank, and International Monetary Fund.iii | Report to the Human Rights Council on Missions to Uganda, the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund, March 5, 2008 |
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The government of Ecuador invited the rapporteur to appraise Colombia’s aerial spraying of glyphosate along the Colombia-Ecuador border. The Rapporteur visited Ecuador (May 2007) and Colombia (September 2007). |
The Rapporteur publicly presented his preliminary conclusions and recommendations at the end of both visits.iv Subsequently, Ecuador issued proceedings against Colombia before the International Court of Justice. In these circumstances, the Rapporteur did not submit a full report to the UN Human Rights Council. |
| Access to medicines. Human rights responsibilities of pharmaceutical companies. Affordability of medicines. Effects of patents and licensing on access to medicines. Research and development: neglected diseases and pediatric formulations. | Report to the Human Rights Council on Mission to GlaxoSmithKline, May 5, 2009 |
| Maternal mortality. | Report to the Human Rights Council on Mission to India, April 15, 2010 |
For rapporteurs’ thematic reports, as well as their reports on communications with governments and other actors, see http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Health/Pages/AnnualReports.aspx.
For rapporteurs’ mission reports, see http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Health/Pages/CountryVisits.aspx.
In addition to the above sites, Paul Hunt’s reports (thematic, mission, and communications) can be found at
i. Joint Report of the Chairperson-Rapporteur of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, Leila Zerrougui; Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Leandro Despouy; Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, Manfred Nowak; Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, Asma Jahangir; and Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, Paul Hunt.
ii. Joint Report of the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Philip Alston; Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, Paul Hunt; Representative of Secretary-General on Human Rights of internally displaced persons, Walter Kalin; and Special Rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living, Miloon Kothari.
iii. See also part V of the Report to the Human Rights Council on Mission to Sweden, February 28, 2007, A/HRC/4/28/Add.2.
iv. Available at http://www.essex.ac.uk/hrc/documents/practice/PaulHuntEcuadorColumbia2007.pdf
v. Summary report of the discussions held and the recommendations made at the expert consultation on access to medicines as a fundamental component of the right to health.
vi. Joint Report of the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, Dainius Pūras; Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, Maud de Boer-Buquicchio; and Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, Urmila Bhoola.