The APHA International Human Rights Committee has been exploring the relevance of human rights principles to both international as well as domestic public health issues. The APHA Principles on Public Health and Human Rights approved by the Executive Board and distributed to members in 2000 was a first step in clarifying this linkage. Human rights principles form the basic foundation of public health work because they interpret the values we believe. However, because we implicitly assume this connection, we have not taken the opportunity to translate these linkages in a way that is easily understood by the public as a moral imperative they should fight for.

This session will present three case examples to demonstrate the direct relevance of human rights principles to US public health issues using racism, employment, and women’s health as examples. Linkages will be made between the US examples and their international counterparts. Then from a state commissioner of public health’s perspective, there will be discussion of how to integrate these concepts within the public health work force, both in regard to decision making as well as educating the public. The synthesis of this will highlight how these experiences can form the basis of a movement in the public health field. The final presentation will outline what leadership steps APHA it’s taking to move forward with this education and advocacy agenda.