Topic: Healthcare as a Human Right
Country: Ireland
Delegate Name: Emily Barnum
School: Vicksburg High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Ireland position papers GLIMUN 2012 committees
The difficulty of declaring healthcare as a human right becomes very apparent when one takes into account the varying statuses of states across the world; while many would agree on the need to have healthy populations, not all would agree on to what degree this should be a feat for governments to tackle as it is a complex issue that some nations can not even begin to think about. In general however, Ireland would encourage states to provide as much of an access to healthcare as possible, understanding the different limitations that each state has on its ability to provide this kind of care of its people.
Some states may attempt to not recognize healthcare as a human right because of the inability to meet this right if it declared so. In addition, if it is declared a right, what part do governments need to play in reinforcing and providing for this right? Ireland represents a blend of private and government based in an attempt to provide healthcare all citizens and immigrants from the EEU. Groups within Ireland, such as Amnesty, are working to spread the message that healthcare is not only a human right, but one that the government should work to provide completely. It may seem easier for states with means that could potentially go towards providing healthcare to all of their people to support the idea of healthcare being a human right.
Ireland wishes to provide for its people the best standard of living that it can provide. Likewise, Ireland supports other countries in this endeavor, as even though experiencing an economic downfall, Ireland continues to offer the best healthcare that it can and is working currently towards providing service to everyone. Ireland is seeking resolutions that support this continual effort to improve the standard of living in all nations.
