Speaking at the first annual lecture on malaria and human rights, organised by Malaria Consortium, a member of the European Alliance Against Malaria, Professor Hunt highlighted that malaria is a human rights issue and that a right to health perspective has a constructive contribution to make in the fight against malaria.
 

Calling on human rights workers and health workers to collaborate through a human rights based approach to malaria, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health also said that "together they can figure out how the right to health can reinforce existing anti-malaria initiatives and help to identify new effective anti-malaria policies, programmes and projects".

Using his experience as Special Rapporteur, Paul Hunt highlighted the key components of a rights based approach to malaria, emphasising the need for education and information, community participation - he commended in particular home based management of malaria in rural areas - research and development, the role of donors and the international community, monitoring and accountability, and gender.

In his conclusive remarks, the Special Rapporteur called on civil society organisations to take up malaria as a human rights issue. He reiterated that all actors have responsibilities and highlighted key priorities for urgent action: developing health systems and establishing accountability mechanisms.
 

The Lecture was attended by parliamentarians and donors, including DFID, and representatives from the media, NGOs, academia, and from the private and public sector.