Page 37 - Human Rights

Faculty of Nursing
Adult care Nursing Department

virginity; just over half the participants indicated that virginity was important and more than half

disapproved of premarital sexual relations.

In some countries nurses deny unmarried adolescents’ information about or supplies of

contraceptives, although married adolescents would receive them without question.

The CEDAW Committee has emphasized that “Gender-based violence is a form of discrimination

that seriously inhibits women’s ability to enjoy rights and freedoms on a basis of equality with

men.”

2.5 Nursing personnel and the right to the highest attainable
standard of health

Nurses are key actors in respecting, protecting and fulfilling the right to health as they provide a

link between the health care system and the patient.

In carrying out their work, nurses should be able to provide health care and treatment that is
physically and economically accessible, non-discriminatory, culturally appropriate and of a high

quality.

While it is an obligation on governments to ensure that these conditions prevail, obviously health
professionals – including nurses and their associations – have commitments to ethical and

effective care as well as human rights responsibilities.

The ICN has argued that nurses should advocate policies that give priority to the health needs of

the poor and other “at risk” groups while supporting the development of models for local health
systems that reach those most in need of health care.

One increasingly discussed issue is how best to counter the adverse effects of staff migration on

the health systems in some countries Even where such services are not publicly funded,

34 Academic Year 2025/2026