A/HRC/4/28
page 4
I. INTRODUCTION
1.
By its resolution 60/251 of 15 March 2006, the General Assembly concluded the work of
the Commission on Human Rights and created the Human Rights Council. The mandate of the
Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard
of physical and mental health is set out in Commission resolutions 2002/31 and 2004/27. The
Human Rights Council, by its decision 1/102, extended all the mandates of the former
Commission on Human Rights, including that of the Special Rapporteur. The present report is
submitted in accordance with that decision.
2.
In October 2006, the Special Rapporteur presented a report to the General Assembly
(see A/61/338). The report explored two main themes: maternal mortality and the right to
medicines. It also included information on the Special Rapporteur’s mandate activities during
the period January-August 2006. While in New York to present his report, the Special
Rapporteur participated in a briefing on his mandate, organized for non-governmental
organizations (NGOs) by the New York Office of the Office of the High Commissioner for
Human Rights. He also attended a meeting with staff of the United Nations Population Fund
(UNFPA).
3.
In September 2006, the Special Rapporteur, together with the Special Rapporteur on
adequate housing, Mr. Miloon Kothari, the Representative of the Secretary-General on human
rights of internally displaced persons, Mr. Walter Kälin, and the Special Rapporteur on
extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Mr. Philip Alston, visited Lebanon and Israel at
the invitation of their Governments. A report on the mission (A/HRC/2/7) was submitted and
presented to the Human Rights Council the following month.
4.
In October 2006, the Special Rapporteur visited Peru where he had meetings following
up on his country mission of June 2004 (see E/CN.4/2005/51/Add.3). He met with the
Vice-Minister of Health, the Minister for Women, and representatives of the Ministry of Justice
and Foreign Affairs. He held a meeting with many congresswomen and congressmen, and also
met with the Defensoria del Pueblo (Ombuds) and her colleagues. He also met with
representatives of the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO), UNFPA, UNAIDS and other
international organizations, as well as with civil society, and visited Victor Larco Herrera
psychiatric hospital in Lima. Following this visit, the Special Rapporteur is requesting further
information about follow-up undertaken in response to recommendations included in the report
on his 2004 mission.
5.
In the same month, the Special Rapporteur travelled to Washington, DC, where he met
with the Executive Directors of the Nordic-Baltic Departments in the World Bank and
International Monetary Fund (IMF). This official visit was undertaken by way of follow-up to
his mission to Sweden in January 2006. A report on this visit to the World Bank and IMF will
be presented to the Human Rights Council in 2007.1
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