Freedom of Movement and the Realization of Health: Case studies in the Soviet Union and Palestine

Although freedom of movement is often regarded as one of the most basic human rights and as an underlying condition necessary for the realization of other human rights, it is systematically denied to populations throughout the world. Treaty writers have long recognized the importance of the freedom of movement, routinely incorporating it into a wide range of international covenants, treaties, and conventions on human rights and, as a result, rendering it a principal facet of international human rights law. Public health and other authorities may justifiably restrict the freedom of movement for the public good in cases of isolation and quarantine. Study of both historical and contemporary cases of movement restrictions, however, reveals negative health impacts within various populations. This presentation presents an understanding of the restricted movement of various ethnic groups within the former Soviet Union and of those currently living in occupied Palestine, while simultaneously exploring the health ramifications of the denial of one of the most fundamental human rights in each setting. Understanding the historical context of the restriction of movement in the Soviet Union allows for a more complete analysis of restrictions currently in place in Palestine. Such analyses create a backdrop for the international imperative to protect freedom of movement globally and highlight the importance that this right has on the health and well-being of the global population.