A/HRC/37/74 society, communities and the private sector. Fulfilling the right to health was considered one of the highest challenges faced by the international community. It was recognized that upholding human rights, including the right to health, was essential to broader efforts to promote peace and development. However, from the discussions, it had become clear that stigma, discrimination, misuse of criminal laws and other human rights violations continued to act as barriers to effective responses to HIV and other communicable diseases and epidemics and that often, human rights were not adequately integrated into health responses. In many countries and regions throughout the world, the populations most affected by HIV were made more vulnerable by laws that criminalized same-sex sexual relations, sex work, drug use, HIV non-disclosure, exposure or transmission. Addressing such laws had been highlighted as imperative in order to respond to HIV and advance health for all. 64. The 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals offered a framework for multisectoral action to realize human rights in the context of HIV and other communicable diseases and epidemics. The Sustainable Development Goals, with their promise of leaving no one behind, called for the meaningful participation of civil society and communities in health responses, including at decision-making tables. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development also called for universal health-care coverage, access to quality essential health-care services and access to safe, effective, quality and affordable medicines and vaccines. 65. Stigma, discrimination, marginalization and criminalization worsened epidemics, undermined prevention efforts and hindered access to lifesaving public services and goods by key populations and groups in vulnerable situations. Several groups faced specific challenges, including migrants, refugees, persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples, poor populations, children, adolescents, women, transgender people, men who had sex with men, people who used drugs, people deprived of their liberty and sex workers. Many speakers emphasized the importance of collecting data about the impact of epidemics among those populations, of disaggregating data and of ensuring the participation of affected communities and civil society in data collection and analysis efforts, and in the political debates and decisions informed by that analysis. 66. Participants noted that the economic, social, legal and “commercial” determinants of health included poverty, substandard housing, inadequate water and sanitation, a lack of social security, gender inequality, a lack of access to health-care services and safe, effective, quality and affordable medicines, the marginalization of certain groups and the criminalization of certain behaviours, such as sex between consenting adults of the same sex, drug use or sex work. 67. It was recognized that civil society and affected community organizations were crucial actors in the protection of human rights in the context of communicable diseases. However, in many countries they were under pressure and their space was shrinking due to restrictive laws and policies and a lack of funding. Their in-depth knowledge of the challenges faced in particular regions and by particular groups risked being ignored in the design of global and local strategies against epidemics and other diseases. 68. Health-care workers were on the front line of the fight against epidemics and other diseases, often working under poor working conditions, lacking appropriate resources and protection against infection. Appropriate training and information, including human rights education and training, could empower health workers and students preparing for health-related careers to promote and protect the human rights of patients and communities and to provide discrimination-free care. 69. Diverse partners across sectors need to be mobilized in order to address the many human rights challenges in the context of communicable diseases. There were many encouraging examples of good practices, programmes and initiatives implemented by national, international and regional human rights mechanisms and institutions, governmental bodies, civil society and affected community organizations, 17