The right to get responses to human rights violations

Tips and information 

• Some people are unable to get information, goods and services for health
• When people's health needs are not met, they have the right to raise the issue and expect action to be taken - this is known as accountability
• Accountability is between a duty holder and a person or organisation to whom a duty is owed
• An example of a duty holder is the government, and a citizen is an example of a duty bearer (to whom a duty is owed)
• A government must set up systems to make sure everyone has access to accountability
• The issues people bring up through the official accountability system should also feed into regional systems (such as the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights), and global systems (such as the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights)
• If people believe their human rights are not being met, they can also submit a complaint, such as to the United Nations Human Rights Council or to the complaint procedures of human rights treaty bodies