On 23 June 2023, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health, Dr. Tlaleng Mofokeng, shared key recommendations from her latest thematic report Digital Innovation, Technologies and the Right to Health. This was during a side event hosted by KELIN in collaboration with the Permanent Mission of Brazil in Geneva, Permanent Mission of the Federal Republic of Germany in Geneva, Global Network of People Living with HIV (GNP+), Privacy International, STOPAIDS, the Global Health Centre of the Graduate Institute, International Commission of Jurists (Africa), the Global Governance Centre at Geneva Graduate Institute, and the Centre for Interdisciplinary Methodologies at University of Warwick. The event hosted in Geneva was attended by 45 in-person and 199 online participants representing 42 countries.
During the event, participants applauded the UN SR for the timely report noting that indeed there has been a rapid uptake of digital health technologies. Speakers agreed that such digital health technologies presented opportunities, challenges and ‘multi-faceted experiences, not all good and not all bad.’ Speakers emphasized on some of the dangers highlighted in the report, for instance that privacy and data breaches in digital health is more heightened and that the use of digital technologies, without sufficient human rights safeguards, may deepen and exacerbate existing inequalities.
Participants agreed that the recommendations contained in the report were incisive and agreed that there is need to develop a regulatory environment that maximize the benefits of digital technology for all and addresses the risks to specific groups as well as ensure accountability from Governments and private actors. And that an intersectional rights-based approach to digital innovation and technologies must be adopted.
Participants called on various actors including governments, development partners, civil society organizations, and private actors to implement the recommendations in the report.
Moving forward, KELIN will continue with advocacy for the adoption of a human rights approach to digital health technologies and innovation.
Here is a recording of the side event: Digital Innovation New Tech & Right to Health – UNHRC Side Event – YouTube
Read the UN Special Rapporteur on Right to Health’s thematic report here: A/HRC/53/65: Digital innovation, technologies and the right to health | OHCHR
Read article by Sara (Meg) Davis analysing the UN SR report here: Human Rights in Digital Health: AI for Good? – Opinio Juris
Read blog article by Alexandrine Pirlot de Corbion (Privacy International) and Timothy Wafula (KELIN) about the UN SR report here: UN Expert Addresses Privacy and Health Rights Concerns in Digital Technology – Health and Human Rights Journal (hhrjournal.org)
Read blog article by Olendo Obondo and Timothy Wafula (KELIN) on the submissions made by young people and human rights lawyers to the UN SR here: Digital innovation, technologies, and the right to health: what did young people and human rights lawyers recommend? – KELIN Kenya
To contribute to discussion on this forum, follow KELIN on our social media platforms. Twitter: @KELINKenya; Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/kelinkenya
For more information, please contact:
Timothy Wafula| Health Governance
Kuwinda Lane, off Langata Road, Karen C
P O Box 112 – 00202 KNH Nairobi
E-mail: twafula@kelinkenya.org
Website: www.kelinkenya.org
