Dainius Puras elected as UN Special Rapporteur on health issues

Dainius Puras was elected as the United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.

Dainius Puras elected as UN Special Rapporteur on health issues
etr The United Nations (in short UN) is an international organisation.
The UN helps countries work together.The UN thinks it is important for all countries to respect human rights.

The UN makes sure all the citizens are able to enjoy equal rights.

Some special people tell the UN if there are problems in some countries.
It is an important job.

Dainius Puras was elected to be one of these people.

Dainius Puras believes the UN has to do more to help
people with disabilities get equal access to health and services worldwide.

Dainius Puras was elected as the United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.

Currently the Head and Associate Professor of the Center of Child Psychiatry and Social Pediatrics in Vilnius University, Dainius Puras has served as an expert and a consultant for governmental agencies and nongovernmental organizations in 12 countries in Central and Eastern Europe in the fields of mental health policy and services, child and adolescent mental health, deinstitutionalization and development of community based services for children, youth and families at risk.

In 2007, Mr. Puras was elected to serve as a member and expert of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (UN CRC), where he was actively involved in drafting the General Comments of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

“I have been working over many years with various stakeholders as a medical doctor, human rights activist, researcher and independent expert. This has equipped me with a privilege of having a unique combination of experience and competences. My views have been influenced by the fact that since 1980s I have been serving children and adults with mental disabilities. I have often observed that doctors and policy makers make decisions without consulting with patients and their family members. This mistake has led in numerous instances to sad consequences, amounting to grave violations of human rights. The need to apply modern human rights principles in healthcare practice remains important globally, and should be raised at the highest possible level. This is another important part of my motivation,” Mr. Puras explained in his candidature application.

Furthermore, he added that during his new role at the UN he intends to both build on the initiatives already put in place by the UN in promoting accessible health care, but also create new support systems where necessary: “Based on my multi-faceted experience, I have a vision of how a twofold approach could be embraced by the UN Special Rapporteur. Firstly, it is fundamental to continue an effective promotion of right-to-health principles and values, such as non-discrimination, equality, participation, autonomy, transparency. Secondly, it is important to implement key right-to-health mechanisms, such as situation analysis, development of national strategies, monitoring and accountability. I am intimately familiar with strengths and weaknesses of healthcare systems, and thus I have an ambitious vision of contributing to a meaningful translation of modern evidence and values into an effective and rights-based practice.”

The UN Special Rapporteurs are independent experts appointed by the Human Rights Council to examine and report back on a country situation or a specific human rights theme. The position is honorary and Dr. Puras will not be part of the UN staff, nor paid for his work.

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This has always been incredibly important. It is even more so with the Covid pandemic drastic impact on their rights and lives.

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