Page 155 - Human Rights

Faculty of Nursing
Adult care Nursing Department

• Ensure that nurses are made aware of the need to respect human rights in their practice,

including principles of non-discrimination, respect for individual dignity and physical and mental

integrity, and the right of all people to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental
health

• Nurses working in custodial settings should work in an environment in which clinical need is

paramount, non-discrimination is a fundamental value and in which human rights generally are

respected. Where nurses witness abuses, they should be encouraged to report them.

• Ensure that nurses working in settings where there is a high risk of human rights violations are
able to draw on independent sources of advice and support outside the existing professional

framework on the institution – and will not be penalized for doing so.

5.2.2 Defend nurses’ and midwives’ security

Apart from any strengthening of professionalism within nursing, governments must take greater

measures to protect nurses’ security in the health care delivery system and in areas where human

rights violations occur.

• Security for nurses and midwives within the health services and in areas of human rights abuse

should be strengthened.

• Nurses acting as human rights defenders should benefit from the respect and protection states

are obliged to offer to such defenders.

5.3 Regulation and Performance Improvement

The healthcare systems of developed countries are currently confronted with important

challenges due to the rise in healthcare costs and the subsequent lack of financial sustainability
(OECD 2018).

133 Academic Year 2025/2026