WHO: Advocacy for Right to Health in the oPt
The right to health of Palestinians living in the occupied Palestinian territory is severely hindered by the occupation practices imposed by the Israeli government. SDC support to WHO Advocacy Unit in the oPt enables the organization to pursue its evidence-based advocacy efforts to ensure increased compliance of duty bearers with their obligations under international law. The intervention focuses on areas with limited Palestinian Authority (PA) jurisdiction (Area C and East Jerusalem), or with limited effective PA authority as in Gaza Strip.
| Country/region | Topic | Period | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Palestinian Authority |
Health Human rights Rule of Law - Democracy - Human rights
Primary health care
Human rights (incl. Women's rights) |
01.05.2013
- 31.07.2017 |
CHF 1'492'000
|
- Knowledge and capacities of duty-bearers (national and international) is strengthened regarding their obligations to rights-holders (especially vulnerable patients) under International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and International Human Rights Laws (IHRL).
- The Ministry of Health, health educators as well as health and human rights partners provide adequate evidence-based information to monitor health rights under IHL and IHRL.
- Direct advocacy with national and international duty bearers for protection of right to health through evidence-based advocacy regarding the impact of occupation on health, especially in critically accessible areas such as Jerusalem, Area C and Gaza Strip, and with particular attention to vulnerable groups.
- Strengthened capacity of WHO Advocacy Unit as well as the Ministry of Health (MoH) in promoting right to health (RTH).
- WHO succeeded in becoming a leading voice in the oPt on the impact of occupation policies and internal Palestinian divide on health rights with the initiation of an Advocacy Task Force for the Health and Nutrition Cluster in the humanitarian country team.
- Improved coordination and facilitation process between the Government of Israel (GoI) and the Palestinian Authority (PA) on access to health issues including access of ambulances.
- Foreign private sector North
- World Health Organization
- World Health Organization, oPt Office
-
Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation HEALTH
GOVERNMENT AND CIVIL SOCIETY
Sub-Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation Basic health care
Human rights
Cross-cutting topics Human rights
The project takes account of gender equality as a cross-cutting theme.
The project takes account of democratisation, good governance and human rights as cross-cutting themes.
The project also supports partner organisation improvements
Type of support Official development assistance (ODA)
Type of collaboration Bilateral cooperation
Finance type Aid grant
Aid Type Project and programme contribution
Technical assistance inclusive experts
Tied/untied aid Untied aid
Project number 7F06303
| Background |
As the oPt remains divided with severe Israeli restrictions on movement of goods and persons, delivering of health services remains insufficient with significant negative impact on people’s socio-economic activities and development. The separation of East Jerusalem from the rest of the West Bank dramatically limits patients’ access to the six Palestinian hospitals in East Jerusalem, which have highly developed services in comparison with other national hospitals. The Israeli blockage of the Gaza strip, coupled with the internal Palestinian political divide, negatively impacts on Palestinians’ access to tertiary health care and quality of health services. |
| Objectives |
Palestinian women, men and children enjoy their right to health as enshrined in International humanitarian law and international human rights laws and duty bearers are held accountable against their obligations. |
| Target groups |
The Palestinian civilian population at large as rights’ holders UN/international agencies and donors’ representatives Government of Israel (GoI) with its Civil Administration controlling the oPt (COGAT) Palestinian national authorities (especially Ministry of Health) both in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, Health and human rights organizations, health academia, patients’ support groups and the media. |
| Medium-term outcomes |
|
| Results |
Results from previous phases: |
| Directorate/federal office responsible |
SDC |
| Credit area |
Humanitarian aid |
| Project partners |
Contract partner Private sector United Nations Organization (UNO) |
| Budget | Current phase Swiss budget CHF 1'492'000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF 1'482'529 |
| Project phases |
Phase 3 01.05.2013 - 31.07.2017 (Completed) |