Examining women's rights in access to health, including physical and mental health

The right to health as a primary right is mandatory for the application of other human rights and citizenship, so that the goal of citizenship rights is the development of the foundations of human rights. Every human being deserves to have the highest level of access to health standards in order to live a dignified life. The right to the highest attainable standard of health is a human right recognized in international human rights law, in various international and regional human rights instruments, including ICESCR (International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights), CEDAW (International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women), and CRC (Committee on the Rights of the Child). Some human rights instruments address the right to health in general terms; others address this right in relation to specific groups, such as women, children, people with disabilities, or migrant workers. In Iran, discrimination based on gender in enjoyment of the right to health is prohibited. Making health services physically and financially accessible to the entire population and removing social and cultural barriers of women's access to health services are main considerations of the health laws and policies of Iran. The health of Iranian women has improved considerably in recent years. But there are disparities in health status and access of women to health services around the country. Some groups of women, including the poor, the elderly, the disabled, the illegal immigrant, and those without an appropriate male guardian, and rural women have limited access to health services in Iran. To realize women's right to health, this country should immediately remove the disparities and use all the necessary means including legislative, administrative, budgetary, promotional, and judicial measures. National plans on women's empowerment and support should be interpreted in provincial programs and action plans. Moreover, a monitoring system and certain benchmarks for tracing the progress of the plans should be established. Realizing other economic, social, and cultural rights including the rights to food, shelter, education, work, social security, and participation in society will improve the Iranian women's enjoyment of their right