Qatar Chairs Social Forum 2015 in Geneva

Qatar Chairs Social Forum 2015 in Geneva

Geneva /Information Office/ 18 February 2015/ The State of Qatar represented by its Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office at Geneva HE Faisal bin Abdullah Al-Henzab chaired the Social Forum 2015 held in the Palais des Nations in Geneva from 18 to20 February , under the title of "access to medicines in the framework of the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, including best practices ." The aim of the Social Forum was to promote access to medicines by discussing the obstacles, challenges and good practices to follow a human rights be comprehensive and broader approach, in terms of access to medicines in the framework of the right to health. The Forum coincided with Qatar hosting the World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH) 2015, which addresses a number of topics on health, including the provision of health care to patients at affordable prices, patient safety, welfare of children and young people as well as universal health coverage. Speaking at the Forum, HE Ambassador Al-Henzab noted that the current session of the Forum will address of access to medicines in the framework of the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health , including the relevant best practices which have been highlighted in the Human Rights resolution 26/28. The Human Rights Council in 2007 decided to maintain the Social Forum to act as a "unique venue for interactive dialogue between the United Nations human rights mechanisms and the various stakeholders, including local organizations" in order to address promotion of national and international environmental issues, HE Ambassador Al -Henzab added.