provide a reply as a DNP student, using as support different from post references from 2020-2026. make it at least 1 page of length.

Pedro 7900:

 

The right to the best possible state of physical or mental well-being has become one of the most important human rights with the greatest impact on global health laws and professional ethics. The right to the highest possible level of health creates an obligation for national governments to provide equal access to health care regardless of race, gender, sexual preference, religion, disability status, etc. Global health is transformed from a voluntary social service to a legally enforceable obligation to deliver quality health care based on principles of justice, equality, and accountability when a rights-based approach is used in the delivery of global health services. (Forman et al. 2025) stated that a rights-based approach can strengthen global health laws and policies by identifying and addressing the root causes of inequalities in health and improving the position of vulnerable groups.

Human rights provide a basis for shaping the ethics and legal frameworks surrounding health laws by providing standards of justice, fairness, and transparency. The role of human rights in shaping health law and ethics has been most apparent during public health emergencies, where governments have restricted individual freedom in order to protect population health. The application of human rights principles such as legality, necessity, proportionality, and non-discrimination serve as an ethical framework for determining whether emergency measures are both necessary and respect human dignity (OHCHR, 2023).

Migrants, Refugees, Ethnic Minorities, and people who are in Poverty continue to have unequal access to Healthcare despite the various models that exist. The structural barriers that limit access to Essential Health Services include; Immigration Status, Language Barriers, Financial Insecurity, and Discrimination. Women and Girls, who are Migrant and Refugee, also face a double burden, which is being exposed to additional risk factors due to Gender Disparities, Limited Reproductive Health Care Options, and Exclusion from National Health Systems, and thus perpetuate existing Health Equity Gaps (Lingri & Petelos, 2025).

Culture, religion, and ethnic background all have an impact on how individuals experience their own health through their belief systems, their behavior around seeking health care, and their confidence in the health care system that they are using. Cultural norms can influence how an individual views an illness and/or their willingness to adhere to a treatment plan; religious beliefs can guide the decision-making process for vaccinations, reproductive health, and end-of-life care. Systemic discrimination and historical mistrust can lead to increased barriers to access, making it even harder to achieve ethical principles of justice and equity when it comes to accessing health care (Forman et al., 2025).

The inequity can be analyzed by using theories related to Social Determinant of Health and Structural Violence Theory that illustrate how government, societal and economic systems create systematic disadvantages in particular population groups. The Human Rights Frameworks are a direct counter to those inequities as they obligate governments legally and ethically to act against the root cause of health inequities not just their results (Mesquita et al., 2021).

This discussion relates to several of the AACN DNP Essentials (Essential I: Scientific Underpinnings for Practice) as well as the DNP's ability to advocate for equitable healthcare policy (Essential V) as well as applying population level strategies to address health inequity at the population level (Essential VII) (AACN, 2021). The DNP is uniquely positioned to apply the tenets of human rights through evidence based practice, policy advocacy and through population focused interventions to develop ethical and equitable global health care systems.

References

American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2021). The essentials: Core competencies for professional nursing education.

United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. (2023). Principles and guidelines on human rights and public health emergencies. United Nations. https://www.ohchr.org/en/documents/tools-and-resources/principles-and-guidelines-human-rights-and-public-health

Forman, L., Karim, S. A., & Kolawole, O. (2025). Global health with justice: The challenges and opportunities for human rights in global health law. Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics, 53(1). https://doi.org/10.1017/jme.2025.1

Lingri, D., & Petelos, E. (2025). Protecting the rights of migrant and refugee women and girls: A public health law perspective. European Journal of Public Health. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckaf161.622

Mesquita, J. B. D., Kapilashrami, A., & Meier, B. M. (2021). Strengthening human rights in global health law: Lessons from the COVID-19 response. Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics. https://doi.org/10.2139/SSRN.3849742