Right to Health
UNICEF works so that no child and adolescent is left behind in fulfilling their rights
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The right to health is contemplated in article 24 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which states the following:
Article 24
1. States Parties recognize the right of the child to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health and to services for the treatment of disease and rehabilitation of health. States Parties shall endeavor to ensure that no child is deprived of their right to enjoy these health services.
2. States Parties shall ensure the full application of this right and, in particular, shall adopt the appropriate measures to:
a) Reduce infant and child mortality;
c) Combat disease and malnutrition within the framework of primary health care through, among other things, the application of available technology and the provision of adequate nutritious food and safe drinking water, taking into account the hazards and risks of contamination of the environment;
d) Ensuring appropriate prenatal and postnatal health care for mothers;
e) Ensure that all sectors of society, and in particular parents and children, are aware of the basic principles of child health and nutrition, the benefits of breastfeeding, hygiene and environmental sanitation, and prevention measures of accidents, have access to relevant education and are supported in applying that knowledge;
f) Develop preventive health care, parenting guidance, and family planning education and services.
3. States Parties shall take all possible effective and appropriate measures to abolish traditional practices that are harmful to the health of children.
4. States Parties undertake to promote and encourage international cooperation with a view to progressively achieving the full realization of the right recognized in this article. In this regard, the needs of developing countries shall be fully taken into account.
