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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Jeanne Leffers, PhD, RN, College of Nursing, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, 285 Old Westport Road, N. Dartmouth, MA 02885, 401-245-0162, jleffers@umassd.edu

The voice of public health nurses who promote social justice aims in their practice, educational settings and the policy arena has strengthened during the past several years. Yet, the legacy of social injustice and human rights violations has not lessened in response to this increased recognition. This paper challenges nurses and other public health professionals to examine how we as individuals and within our organizations promote human rights at the individual, family, group and population levels. The nursing profession adheres to the American Nurse's Association Code of Ethics that states that the “fundamental principle that underlines all nursing practice is respect for the inherent worth, dignity and human rights of every individual.”(ANA 2001, 1.1) The Code further challenges nurses to look beyond individual rights and health needs to such concerns as lack of access to health care, inequitable distribution of nursing and health care resources, safe housing, homelessness, violence, stigma of illness, appropriate services for women, children and the elderly, world hunger, environmental pollution. Nurses must heed the mandate of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to recognize that the “inherent dignity and of the equal and unalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.” (United Nations, 1948, Preamble 1) Examples from practice, education and policy will illustrate opportunities to advance our personal and professional call to action.

Learning Objectives: At the end of the presentation the participant will be able to

• Recognize how the neglect of human rights impacts health and health care
• Discuss strategies to advance social justice by addressing human rights issues

Keywords: Human Rights, Social Justice

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation