A/HRC/32/32 monitoring and holding Governments to account on the commitments made (General Assembly resolution 70/1). III. Right to health in adolescence A. Understanding the right to health 22. The Convention on the Rights of the Child provides a comprehensive normative and legally binding framework to address the right to health of adolescents under the age of 18, while other treaties, such as the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, provide a framework relevant for all adolescents, including those aged 18 and 19. 23. Further group-specific protections are found in other human rights treaties, but the Committee on the Rights of the Child has been at the forefront of efforts to apply the right to health in the context of adolescents, notably in its general comment No. 4 (2003) on adolescent health and development in the context of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and general comment No. 15 (2013) on the right of the child to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health. 24. The right to health of adolescents is closely related to other human rights included in these treaties, such as the rights of the child to healthy development, education, play and recreation, social security and privacy, and to being free from torture, all forms of violence and economic, sexual and other forms of exploitation. The right to health is also inextricably linked to non-discrimination and equality, participation and accountability. Adolescent health and development need to be promoted in the context of a holistic and comprehensive approach to the wider determinants affecting the opportunities, choices and consequent development of adolescents. 25. The right to health provides a valuable normative framework grounded in a commitment to promote the best interests of adolescents while acknowledging their evolving capacities to take increasing levels of responsibility for their own health care. It also places a legal obligation on States to progressively realize the highest attainable standard of health of adolescents; eliminate discrimination and inequalities that obstruct equitable enjoyment of the right to health; ensure the participation of adolescents in relevant efforts; devote maximum available resources to the right to health of children; develop suitable laws and policies, including a comprehensive national health plan that addresses adolescents’ right to health; and ensure accountability, including effective remedies. 26. The private sector is a significant provider of health care in many countries and plays a major role in the development and refinement of drugs and health-related products and technology. States should ensure that benefits accrue to all adolescents. 20 B. Health care and other health-related services essential for adolescent health 27. States must ensure that health systems, including health-care services, in cooperation with other relevant services, such as social, child protection and education services, are responsive to the right to health of adolescents. They should address the full spectrum of adolescent health and development, including health promotion, sexual and reproductive 20 Committee on the Rights of the Child general comment No. 15, para. 42. 7