Health is a fundamental human right, and an essential component of development. Even though Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights acknowledges that everyone has the right to health and well-being, nearly 1.5 billion people around the world still do not have access to even the most basic health services (care and prevention) of quality, and more than two million people every year die from the AIDS virus.

Over the last decade, the global health challenges have become one of the major subjects on the international political agenda. Within the United Nations and during the successive G8 summits, this took the form of the adoption of multiple commitments. For all this, while some of these commitments have been respected, many others are merely empty promises today, as illustrated by the G8 countries’ failure to keep their promise in regard to universal access to HIV/AIDS treatments.

Despite the improvements made in recent years, attainment of the health-related MDGs continues to lag furthest behind. From this standpoint, it is imperative that over the coming years issues of access to care be kept at the top of the international agenda. In 2011, the G8 and G20, which France chairs this year, will be an opportunity for French NGOs to reiterate the imperative need to fulfil commitments made in the field of health and call for continued efforts.

Coordination SUD’s Monitoring of Health

Coordination SUD’s work on the subject of health is monitored by the Health and Development Commission that brings together approximately twenty NGOs specialized in health and actively involved in field projects or advocacy. The aim of this commission is to foster experience exchange and discussion on members’ practices, and build collective positions on health-related stakes in developing countries.