A/HRC/32/23 3. Health impacts on migrants 28. Environmental factors and climate change are critical drivers of migration. Although migration can be a strategy for adapting to climate change, it also contributes to increased health risks. According to the International Organization for Migration, health risks associated with migration or displacement are caused by reduced access to health-care facilities, goods and services; loss of social networks and assets; and other negative impacts on availability of and access to the underlying determinants of health. In the case of displacement owing to sudden onset disasters, infectious disease can be a major cause of mortality. Population movement due to natural disasters often occurs within vulnerable areas, posing major challenges to public health systems and access to health goods and services. Migrants may also suffer mental health impacts resulting from their displacement and the discrimination to which they may be subject.44 4. Health impacts on indigenous peoples 29. Climate change has an impact on the livelihoods and traditions of indigenous peoples, and can have particularly severe repercussions on their mental and physical health. For many indigenous peoples, their health is directly related to their immediate environment, which often serves as their primary source of water, food and medicine. 45 A recent study carried out in Latin America and the Caribbean found that indigenous communities face multiple difficulties in adapting to environmental changes which contribute to food insecurity and poor health. For instance, climatic changes in the Andean and sub-Andean region have resulted in variations in seasonality that affect the food security, social stability, health and psychological well-being of Aymara and Quechua peoples.46 30. Similarly, nomadic herders are greatly affected by changes in rainfall that threaten their herds, reduce milk production and cause the premature death of young cattle. Droughts also increase respiratory diseases, diseases related to malnutrition and waterborne diseases such as cholera, particularly affecting women and young children. 47 The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has observed that health inequities rooted in race and ethnicity can increase vulnerability to climate change.48 This is especially the case for many indigenous peoples who are at a greater risk of economic hardship, discrimination and poor health and often rely on vulnerable ecosystems for subsistence. III. General human rights obligations and principles that apply in the context of climate change 31. Human rights are universal legal guarantees that protect individuals, groups and peoples against actions and omissions that interfere with their fundamental freedoms and entitlements. Human rights law obliges Governments (principally) and other duty bearers to respect, promote, protect and fulfil all human rights. Human rights are legally protected, and impose obligations in relation to actions and omissions, particularly of States but also of other duty bearers. Human rights obligations, standards and principles have the power to 44 45 46 47 48 10 International Organization for Migration input. Statement by Hindou Ibrahim during the panel discussion on climate change and the right to health. See J. Kronik and D. Verner, Indigenous Peoples and Climate Change in Latin America and the Caribbean (Washington, D.C., World Bank, 2010). Statement by Hindou Ibrahim. Smith and others, “Human health”.