Training Course on Global Health Ethics and Human Rights

Module 1 – Foundations of Global Health Ethics and Human Rights
Subtopics:
Key ethical principles: autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice.
Human rights frameworks and the right to health.
International treaties and conventions (UDHR, ICESCR, CEDAW, CRC).
Ethical challenges unique to global health (resource scarcity, cultural diversity, inequality).
Practical Activities:
Case Study: Right to health and access to essential medicines in low-income countries.
Group Exercise: Mapping ethical principles to real-world health scenarios.

Module 2 – Ethics in Global Health Research and Practice
Subtopics:
Research ethics: informed consent, confidentiality, beneficence, respect.
Ethics of clinical trials in low-resource settings.
Global inequities in research collaboration (“ethics dumping”).
Community engagement and culturally sensitive practices.
Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) and ethics committees.
Practical Activities:
Simulation: Informed consent process in a multicultural community.
Case Discussion: Controversial trials in Africa and Asia.

Module 3 – Human Rights-Based Approaches to Health Policy and Programs
Subtopics:
Core concepts: universality, indivisibility, participation, accountability, non-discrimination.
Applying a rights-based approach to health systems strengthening.
Gender, equity, and marginalized populations in health policy.
Intersection of health, law, and governance.
Advocacy tools for promoting health as a human right.
Practical Activities:
Exercise: Applying a human rights framework to evaluate a national health policy.
Group Project: Drafting a rights-based advocacy statement for a marginalized population.

Module 4 – Globalization, Inequalities, and Ethical Dilemmas
Subtopics:
Globalization and its impact on health equity.
Power dynamics in global health partnerships (Global North–South relations).
Migration, refugees, and health rights.
Pandemic ethics: resource allocation, vaccine equity, mobility restrictions.
Environmental justice and climate change as a human rights issue.
Practical Activities:
Debate: “Should wealthier countries be obligated to share vaccines during pandemics?”
Case Study: COVID-19 and global inequities in access to healthcare.

Module 5 – Leadership, Advocacy, and Case Applications
Subtopics:
Ethical leadership in global health organizations.
Strategies for promoting justice and accountability.
Role of civil society, NGOs, and international organizations.
Integrating ethics and rights in humanitarian response.
Future directions: digital health, AI, and emerging ethical issues.
Practical Activities:
Capstone Project: Participants design an ethics and human rights strategy for a specific health program (e.g., maternal health, refugee health, infectious disease response).
Reflection Session: Personal values and ethical decision-making in professional practice.
Course Outcomes
Strong grounding in global health ethics and human rights frameworks.
Ability to analyze and respond to ethical dilemmas in diverse contexts.
Practical experience applying rights-based approaches to health programs.
Skills in advocacy, leadership, and ethical decision-making.
A capstone project ready for implementation in participants’ work contexts.
Certificate of completion.