A/HRC/32/33 encourage and support people in making informed choices about their health; 17 this encompasses provision of appropriate information regarding sport and physical activity, and ensuring the availability, accessibility, acceptability and quality of certain goods, services and facilities. 14. Additionally, article 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights requires States parties to take steps necessary for the prevention, treatment and control of epidemic, endemic, occupational and other diseases. As overweight and obesity reach endemic levels in much of the world, and are becoming increasingly prevalent in developing countries,18 States should address the underlying determinants of these diseases — such as a sedentary lifestyle — in fulfilment of their obligation pertaining to prevention. This conclusion is supported by the General Assembly, which recognizes prevention as the “cornerstone” of the global response to non-communicable diseases, and the “critical importance” of reducing people’s exposure to modifiable risk factors related to diet and physical inactivity.19 15. In order to discharge these obligations that are accrued under the right to health, States should take varying actions depending on their particular state of development and availability of resources. Respect 16. The obligation to respect the right to health by refraining from denying or limiting access to health services and by abstaining from enforcing discriminatory practices as a State policy extends to participation in sport and physical activity. All people should be permitted to access State-run sporting facilities on an equal basis. Discrimination in access on grounds such as gender, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex characteristics, or legal and health status (including HIV/AIDS status) is not permissible. States should conduct an inclusive, participatory and transparent audit of practices, rules and by-laws relating to sport and the right to health in order to determine their compatibility with human rights standards and should remove any which are discriminatory. 17. Moreover, sport and physical activity should be taken into account in all governmental policies, in accordance with the Helsinki Statement on Health in All Policies.20 States must ensure that relevant laws, policies and programmes in non-health sectors, which are de jure or de facto discriminatory, are not adopted, or are amended or rescinded. For example, States should refrain from implementing and enforcing laws and policies that limit equitable access to goods such as affordable and nutritious food and clean water, and allow people to adopt healthy diets and fully participate in physical activity. Similarly, States should revise planning policies that inequitably allocate communal spaces for public recreation and exercise, or that concentrate infrastructure for active transport, such as walking, cycling and skating, in affluent areas. 18. Finally, States should refrain from interfering with athletes’ health rights by means of laws, policies or programmes involving forced or coercive medical treatments or experimentation, such as doping, conducted in order to enhance sporting ability among athletes. 17 18 19 20 6 See general comment No. 14. WHO, Global Status Report on Non-communicable Diseases (2014). See General Assembly resolution 66/2. See www.who.int/healthpromotion/conferences/8gchp/8gchp_helsinki_statement.pdf.