Public health and human rights are complementary—and,
at times, conflicting—approaches to protecting and
promoting human well-being and dignity. Public health addresses
the needs of populations and seeks, through intervention
and education, to prevent the spread of disease. Enshrined
in international law, human rights describe the obligations
of governments to safeguard their citizenry from harm and
to create conditions where each individual can achieve
his or her full potential. Human rights norms lie at the
core of public health theory and practice, and their enforcement
can help to ensure an equitable distribution of health
resources.