Child Health, Politics and Human Rights in Indonesia

Human Rights can be used as a tool to evaluate and advocate for improved child health in developing countries. The international human rights instruments that guide assessments of the right to health for children are the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Article 12, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The UN General Comment 14, which specifically interprets the right to health, is of particular importance in the evaluation of child health because it articulates an international legal methodology. The indicators include accessibility, quality, availability and participation of persons impacted. Affordability is included in the indicator accessibility, as is freedom from discrimination.

Uplift International is collaborating with the Indonesian Doctors Association and other health and legal NGOs to assess the right to health in Indonesia for a shadow report to the UN Committee on Economic Social and Cultural Rights. Indonesia will be reviewed by the Committee in 2008. Approximately 28% of under 5 year olds are malnourished in Indonesia and one third of all school age children are malnourished. The Shadow Report will describe why this malnutrition is a violation of child rights.

In addition to documenting child health rights violations, the shadow report process is a mechanism to build NGO capacity to monitor, evaluate and advocate for improved child health. It is also an opportunity to engage the media to focus attention on the important issue of child health, ultimately increasing awareness in the general population.