HIGHLIGHTS OF RESULTS High-Level Working Group on Health and Human Rights Convened by UN Human Rights and WHO in 2016, the High-Level Working Group on Health and Human Rights presented its recommendations to the World Health Assembly and the Human Rights Council in 2017. This is the first time that a report has been launched before both bodies. The report emphasized that the world is at a turning point that could lead to greater dignity for everyone throughout their lives, but only if governments invest in the integral relationship between human rights and health, specifically for women, children and adolescents. “Leadership is fundamental to maximize the benefits of the interplay between health and human rights. If human rights to – and through – health are not at the centre of what we do, the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda will surely fail,” said Tarja Halonen, former President of Finland and Co-Chair of the Group, at the launch event in May 2017. The Group also pointed out the unprecedented opportunity for sustainable development with the largest generation of adolescents in the world’s history. To seize this opportunity their rights to and through health must be respected and realized. The Group warned that erosion of – and in some cases a backlash against – human rights worldwide threatens to undermine pro- gress in the health and well-being of all people. “The realization of human rights in the context of sexual and reproductive health, including access to safe abortion, is not only seriously uneven or unattainable at the country level, it is under direct attack, risking the reversal of hard-won advances in preventable maternal and child mortality and undermining the health of adolescents worldwide,” added Tarja Halonen. “Many promises have been made but still millions of women, children and adolescents are denied their fundamental human rights, leading to preventable deaths, injury, physical and mental illness and other harm. Despite medical breakthroughs and scientific advances, societies continue to undervalue the health and dignity of women, children and adolescents, undermining their rights and dismissing their rightful claims,” said Hina Jilani, member of the Elders and the Group’s Co-Chair. UN Human Rights and WHO have committed to taking forward the recommendations of the report, including through the first Framework of Cooperation between the two institutions, which was signed in November 2017. The coordinated work foreseen under this agreement aims to support a holistic approach to health and human rights, including in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. The High Commissioner, the former Director-General of WHO and the Co-Chair of the High-Level Working Group on Health and Human Rights launch the report “Leading the realization of human rights to health and through health.” © WHO 36 UN HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2017