A/HRC/7/32
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59. Care International suggested that a text be added to paragraph 20 requiring States to
immediately tackle hunger and to desist from starving people under their control, including
prisoners and asylum-seekers. It also suggested that the draft guiding principles recognize
gender-specific aspects of the right to food, such as basic needs during pregnancy.
60. HelpAge International and Sightsavers International recommended including the
prevention of discriminatory distribution of food in humanitarian responses.
F. Right to health
61. The Government of Belgium noted that the last sentence of paragraph 26 was not
sufficiently precise to capture the full complexity of international assistance.
62. The Government of Colombia suggested noting in paragraph 24 that persons living in
extreme poverty should have priority in all health services.
63. The Government of the Philippines expressed the view that access to quality and
affordable essential health goods and services is a right of people living in poverty. These goods
and services should be made accessible and available, particularly in times of need. People living
in hardship should be provided with assistance (financial and logistical) for curative health care,
especially in cases where preventive health-care programmes are absent or ineffective.
64. The International Federation of Social Workers proposed that the absence of health
services in many remote areas of the world be noted in paragraphs 24-27. Furthermore it
expressed the view that paragraph 27 was difficult to implement.
65. The South African Human Rights Commission suggested that Part F include explicit
provisions for the protection of the right to reproductive health for women living in extreme
poverty.
66. The Equal Opportunity Commission recommended highlighting the issue of trading in
human organs and the exploitation of people living in extreme poverty in this trade.
67. Care International suggested that the notion of highest attainable standard of physical and
mental health be addressed in the draft guiding principles.
68. HelpAge International and Sightsavers International suggested adding “mental and
chronic illnesses” to the existing list of diseases in paragraph 26.
G. Right to drinking water
69. The Government of Belgium suggested revising paragraphs 29 and 30 to better address the
complex issue of the right to drinking water.
70. The Government of Colombia stated that the State has the obligation to provide universal
access to drinking water but that a responsibility exists on the part of the population to look after
its sources of drinking water and to pay at least a minimum fee for the provision of water to
ensure that the State can meet its obligation. To reflect the relationship between the obligations
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