A/HRC/PRST/30/2 United Nations General Assembly Distr.: General 13 October 2015 Original: English Human Rights Council Thirtieth session Agenda item 1 Statement by the President PRST 30/2. Promoting the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health by enhancing capacity-building in public health against pandemics At the 42nd meeting, held on 2 October 2015, the President of the Human Rights Council made the following statement: “The Human Rights Council: 1. Acknowledges that the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health is a human right, as recognized in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and calls for respect for and the promotion, protection and fulfilment of this right, including through intensified international cooperation enhancing capacity-building in global public health; 2. Expresses its deep concern at the outbreak of Ebola, which is still ongoing, in West Africa in 2014, and its unprecedented nature and scope, as well as its grave humanitarian, economic and social consequences; 3. Deplores the loss of lives and the wide social and economic impact caused by other pandemics, such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, including non-communicable diseases; 4. Notes with concern the heavy disease burden borne by those living in poverty, especially in developing countries, including the least developed countries and small island developing States; 5. Emphasizes the need for intensified efforts to ensure universal respect for and the promotion, protection and fulfilment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all on the basis of equality, to reduce vulnerability to pandemics and to prevent related discrimination and stigma; 6. Recognizes the need to strengthen resilience and to promote integrated national health systems aimed at ensuring universal access to quality health-care services, universal health coverage, social infrastructures and services, to reinforce GE.15-17360(E) *1517360*