Edited News , Press Conferences | OHCHR
Human Rights Council report analyses impact of digital technology on the right to health
The use of digital technology in health should not impair the right to have personal health data treated with confidentiality, particularly where already vulnerable people are concerned, UN-appointed independent rights expert told the Human Rights Council on Thursday.
The Special Rapporteur on the right to health, Tlaleng Mofokeng, warned that technology enabled easy sharing of sensitive health data of adolescents, migrants and people whose sexual orientation or health status was subject to discrimination.
“Accessibility of information through digital tools should not impair the right to have personal health data treated with confidentiality,” insisted Ms. Mofokeng. “It was brought to my attention that on some occasions the sharing of sensitive data can be problematic and potentially dangerous in specific contexts where for example migrants, adolescents and certain sexual orientations or practices of healthcare procedures are criminalized, or health status could lead to stigmatization.”
Ms. Mofokeng highlighted the dangerous use of both State and non-State actors in the context of criminalized health services, such as contraception and abortion, where people who seek abortion and individuals who help them face risk of arrest or prosecution.
In her third report to the Human Rights Council, Ms Mofokeng analyzed the impact on the digital innovation on the right to health but also the impact of digital technology on privacy and data protection.
Digital innovation and technologies for health facilities have been used extensively to manage the health needs during the Covid-19 pandemic and can help access to broader health care.
“Telemedicine, telehealth and other digital forms of health care solutions offer great potential for scaling up in terms of physical accessibility and can improve the accessibility to mobile diagnostics, healthcare workers for screening and advice, and delivery of therapeutics for example,” noted the UN appointed independent rights expert.
Regarding economic accessibility, Ms. Mofokeng said that “types of remote health care can be less expensive than in-person health care and can lower the direct and indirect costs of clinic visits, travel or unpaid sick leave.”
But Ms. Mofokeng warned that technology allows easy sharing of sensitive health data which might be used in police surveillance and law enforcement, “which further creates vulnerable situations for certain groups, for example those with HIV, migrant populations and LGBTIQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and gender-diverse)”.
“Digital tools can perpetuate racism, sexism, ableism or discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, among others in code, design and application”, the UN Special Rapporteur said. “I support the call for “design justice”, in which technology is designed through diverse and inclusive processes to meet diverse local needs.”
The expert called on all stakeholders to respect principles of non-discrimination, equality and privacy and to allow for transparency, accountability and recourse when rights are violated. She also told the Human Rights Council that human contact "remains important for primary care and concerns remain that the digital delivery of mental health services, for example, may be an inferior form of health care in comparison to in-person treatment”.
Special Rapporteurs and other independent experts appointed by the Human Rights Council serve in their individual capacity; they are not UN staff and do not receive payment for their work.
-ends-
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Monday delivered his report on Sri Lanka to the 60th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Monday delivered his global update to the 60th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR
A UN report on the Democratic Republic of Congo raises specter of war crimes and crimes against humanity in North and South Kivu, according to UN Human Rights Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | IFRC , OHCHR
Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service (UNIS) in Geneva, chaired the hybrid briefing, which was attended by spokespersons and representatives from the International Organization for Migration, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the World Meteorological Organization, the World Health Organization, and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
1
1
1
Edited News | WMO
As billions of people continue to breathe polluted air that causes more than 4.5 million premature deaths every year, UN climate experts on Friday highlighted how damaging microscopic smoke particles from wildfires play their part, travelling half-way across the world.
2
3
2
Press Conferences | WMO
Launch of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO)'s Air Quality and Climate Bulletin 2024.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | OHCHR
The UN disability rights committee (CRPD) presented the findings of its 33rd session on DPRK, Finland, Kiribati, Maldives and the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | HRC
UN Human Rights Council President Ambassador Jürg Lauber briefs the press in Geneva ahead of the Council's 60th session.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR
UN Human Rights Office Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence made the following comment on the on-going presidential election process in Cameroon at the bi-weekly press briefing in Geneva.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR
The UN Human Rights Office released a new report on Myanmar, describing death, destruction and desperation which reflect atrocities committed in 2017.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | OCHA , IFRC , UNHCR , OHCHR , UN WOMEN , UNFPA
Alessandra Vellucci of the United Nations Information Service (UNIS) in Geneva, chaired the hybrid briefing, attended by spokespersons and representatives of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, UN Women, the United Nations Sexual and Reproductive Agency, the United Nations Children’s Fund and the International Federation of the Red Cross.
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA , IFRC , UNHCR
Afghanistan: Humanitarians scramble to reach survivors of deadly quake; response at ‘breaking point’
In remote eastern Afghanistan, aid workers are racing to assist survivors of Sunday’s devastating earthquake as the death toll continues to climb, UN humanitarians said on Tuesday.