TL/DR –
The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) has issued guidelines to tackle racial discrimination in health care. The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the issue with governments’ public health responses, often reinforcing institutional racism. CERD’s recommended approach includes collecting data on racial inequalities and addressing structural racism and discrimination that generates barriers to health care, including the unequal access to health-related information.
UN Committee Provides Guidance on Addressing Racial Discrimination in Healthcare
The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) has provided guidance to governments on steps to combat racial discrimination in health care. The wide-reaching effects of racism and prejudice on health rights across the globe are notable. Racism influences the social determinants of health, such as income, education, and access to health resources and information. It also affects interaction with healthcare personnel, who may disregard the health concerns of colored patients, particularly women.
The Covid-19 outbreak has highlighted this issue, with many public health responses deepening institutional racism. As a result, CERD has sought to offer governments clearer instructions for upholding health rights for all. These recommendations align well with suggestions by Human Rights Watch, derived from their research.
Human Rights Watch has teamed up with other civil society organizations in asking European governments to collect equality data that is disaggregated by race and ethnic origin to tackle systemic racism in health care. CERD stresses the importance of such data collection to address racial disparities. The Committee also emphasizes the need for action to remove barriers contributing to high rates of preventable cervical cancer deaths among Black women in the US.
The roadmap CERD provides offers an anti-racist approach to healthcare, one that acknowledges the effects of colonialism and enslavement. It encourages governments to incorporate these guidelines into their national systems.
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