Right to health in conflict situations 2013, para. 30

Paragraph

Paragraph text: Militarization refers to the taking over or use of health facilities and services by armed forces or law enforcement agencies for achieving military objectives. Such military use poses a serious risk to the life and health of patients and health-care workers and erodes the role and perception of hospitals as a safe space to access health care. The impartiality of medical facilities is often compromised by the constant presence of security forces in hospitals and intimidation of patients and health-care workers in hospitals and clinics. Hospitals and clinics are sometimes taken over by security forces in order to identify or arrest protestors injured in clashes with pro-Government forces. Those identified with protest-related injuries are often prevented from seeking emergency medical attention, removed from medical care, tortured or arrested (A/HRC/19/69, para. 63). Militarization of health care has also led to undesirable fallouts in respect of access to basic health care in some countries. Widespread fear of persecution leads civilians to avoid seeking treatment at health facilities and resort to treatment in unsafe conditions instead (ibid.). Such persecution violates the right to health of persons by impeding their access to quality health services.

Body: Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health

Topic(s)

Person(s) affected