People

Professor Paul Hunt

Professor
Essex Law School
Professor Paul Hunt
  • Email

  • Location

    Colchester Campus

  • Academic support hours

    Monday 13:30 - 15:00

Profile

Biography

Professor Paul Hunt, a New Zealand and British national, practised as a litigation solicitor in London before specialising in international and domestic human rights law. He has lived, and undertaken human rights work, in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the South Pacific. In the 1980s, he was Legal Officer of the London-based National Council for Civil Liberties (Liberty). Between 1990-1992, he was Associate Director of the African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies in Banjul, Gambia. Between 1992-2000, he was Senior Lecturer at Waikato University, in New Zealand. In 1998, he was nominated by the Government of New Zealand and elected by the UN to serve as an independent expert on the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1999-2002). Between 2002-2008, he served as UN Special Rapporteur on the right to the highest attainable standard of health and, in 2008, was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the Nordic School of Public Health. In 2011-2012, Professor Hunt held part-time responsibilities with the World Health Organisation (Geneva), advising Assistant Director-General Dr.Flavia Bustreo on human rights issues. paulhunt28@yahoo.co.uk During 2011-12, in addition to his teaching at Essex University (see above), Professor Hunt held some part-time responsibilities at the World Health Organisation (Geneva), advising Assistant Director-General Dr.Flavia Bustreo on human rights issues.

Research and professional activities

Research interests

International human rights law

Economic, social and cultural rights

The right to the highest attainable standard of health

Poverty, development and human rights

Teaching and supervision

Current teaching responsibilities

  • International Human Rights Law: Law and Practice (LW901)

  • Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in Context (LW930)

Previous supervision

Susan Patricia Stallabrass
Susan Patricia Stallabrass
Thesis title: Conceptualising, Engaging and Acting on the Social Gradient: The Right of Everyone to the Enjoyment of the Highest Attainable Standard of Health
Degree subject: Human Rights
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 21/12/2023
Amy Victoria Dickens
Amy Victoria Dickens
Thesis title: The Right to Health Implications of Data-Driven Health Research Partnerships
Degree subject: Human Rights
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 4/10/2021
Levi Mvula
Levi Mvula
Thesis title: Maternal Mortality and Morbidity: The Extent of Malawi's Compliance with its Human Rights Obligations
Degree subject: Human Rights
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 8/4/2015

Publications

Journal articles (24)

Rumbold, B., Baker, R., Ferraz, O., Hawkes, S., Krubiner, C., Littlejohns, P., Norheim, OF., Pegram, T., Rid, A., Venkatapuram, S., Voorhoeve, A., Wang, D., Weale, A., Wilson, J., Yamin, AE. and Hunt, PH., (2017). Universal health coverage, priority setting, and the human right to health. The Lancet. 390 (10095), 712-714

Hunt, P., (2017). Configuring the UN Human Rights System in the "era of Implementation": Mainland and Archipelago. Human Rights Quarterly. 39 (3), 489-538

Williams, C. and Hunt, P., (2017). Neglecting human rights: accountability, data and Sustainable Development Goal 3. The International Journal of Human Rights. 21 (8), 1114-1143

Hunt, P., (2016). Interpreting the international right to health in a human rights-based approach to health. Health and Human Rights. 18 (2), 109-130

Hunt, PH., (2016). Book Review: Power, Suffering, and the Struggle for Dignity: Human Rights Frameworks for Health and Why They Matter by Alicia Ely Yamin (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2016, 336 Pages, ISBN 978-0-8122-4774-9). Human Rights Quarterly. 38 (4), 1138-1143

Bueno De Mesquita, J., Sander, G. and Hunt, P., (2016). Rehabilitation and the Right to Health in Times of Transition. International Human Rights Law Review. 5 (2), 169-193

Hunt, PH., Yamin, AE. and Bustreo, F., (2015). Editorial: Making the case: What is the evidence of impact of applying human rights-based approaches to health?. Health and Human Rights. 17 (2), 1-9

Hunt, PH., (2015). SDGs and the importance of formal independent review: An opportunity for health to lead the way. Health and Human Rights

Bustreo, F. and Hunt, PH., (2013). The right to health is coming of age: Evidence of impact and the importance of leadership. Journal of Public Health Policy. 34 (4), 574-579

Lee, J. and Hunt, PH., (2012). Human rights responsibilities of pharmaceutical companies in relation to access to medicines.. Journal of Law, Medicine and Ethics. 40 (2), 220-233

Cottingham, J., Germain, A. and Hunt, PH., (2012). Use of human rights to meet the unmet need for family planning. The Lancet. 380 (9837), 172-180

Hunt, PH. and Lee, J., (2011). Deepening the Human Rights Connections (an essay response to Jennifer Ruger's "Health and Social Justice"). Journal of Human Development and Capabilities. 12 (4), 577-586

Hunt, PH. and Khosla, R., (2010). Are drug companies living up to their human rights responsibilities? The perspective of the former United Nations Special Rapporteur (2002-2008).. PLoS medicine. 7 (9), creators-Hunt=3APaul_H=3A=3A

MacNaughton, G. and Hunt, PH., (2009). Health impact assessment: The contribution of the right to the highest attainable standard of health. Public Health. 123 (4), 302-305

Hunt, PH., (2009). Missed opportunities: human rights and the Commission on Social Determinants of Health. Global Health Promotion. 16 (1 Supp), 36-41

Backman, G., Hunt, PH., Khosla, R., Jaramillo-Strouss, C., Fikre, BM., Rumble, C., Pevalin, DJ., P�ez, DA., Pineda, MA., Frisancho, A., Tarco, D., Motlagh, M., Farcasanu, D. and Vladescu, C., (2008). Health systems and the right to health: an assessment of 194 countries. The Lancet. 372 (9655), 2047-2085

Hunt, PH. and Backman, G., (2008). Health systems and the right to the highest attainable standard of health. Health and Human Rights. 10 (1), 81-92

Hunt, PH., (2008). Poverty, malaria, and the right to health – exploring the connections. Journal of Humanitarian Medicine. VIII (4), 46-48

Hunt, PH., (2008). The health and human rights movement: progress and obstacles.. Journal of law and medicine. 15 (5), 714-24

Hunt, PH. and Khosla, R., (2008). The human right to medicines. Sur : International Journal on Human Rights. 5 (8), 98-114

Hunt, PH., (2007). Right to the highest attainable standard of health. The Lancet. 370 (9585), 369-371

Hunt, P. and Bueno De Mesquita, J., (2006). Mental Disability and the Human Right to the Highest Attainable Standard of Health. Human Rights Quarterly. 28 (2), 332-356

Hunt, PH., (2006). Using All the Tools at Our Disposal: Poverty Reduction and the Right to the Highest Attainable Standard of Health. Development Outreach

Hunt, PH., (2006). The human right to the highest attainable standard of health: new opportunities and challenges. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 100 (7), 603-607

Books (4)

Hunt, PHM., (2017). Social rights are human rights - but the UK system is rigged. Centre for Welfare Reform. 978-1-907790-93-5

Hunt, PH. and Gray, T., (2013). Maternal Mortality, Human Rights and Accountability. Routledge. 978-0415534581

Hunt, P., Bustreo, F., Gruskin, S., Eide, A., McGoey, L., Rao, S., Songane, F., Tarantola, D., Unnithan, M., Yamin, AE., van Bolhuis, A., Ferguson, L., Halliday, E., Kuruvilla, S., Popay, J. and Sander, G., (2013). Women's and Children's Health: Evidence of Impact of Human Rights. World Health Organization. 9789241505420

Hunt, PH., Bustreo, F., Gruskin, S., Eide, A., McGoey, L., Rao, S., Songane, F., Tarantola, D., Unnithan, M., Yamin, AE., van Bolhuis, A., Ferguson, L., Halliday, E., Kuruvilla, S., Popay, J. and Sander, G., (2013). Women's and Children's Health: Evidence of Impact of Human Rights. World Health Organization. 9789241505420

Book chapters (16)

Williams, C. and Hunt, P., (2018). Neglecting human rights: accountability, data and Sustainable Development Goal 3. In: The Sustainable Development Goals and Human Rights A Critical Early Review. Editors: Winkler, I. and Williams, C., . Routledge. 1138495298. 9781138495296

Hunt, PH., (2017). The challenge of non-state actors: the experience of the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to the highest attainable standard of health (2002-2008). In: The United Nations Special Procedures System. Editors: Nolan, A., Freedman, R. and Murphy, T., . Brill. 9789004304697

Hunt, PHM., (2017). Essay Book Review of 'Fulfilling Social and Economic Rights', by Sakiko Fukuda-Parr, Terra Lawson-Remer and Susan Randolph, Oxford University Press, 2015.. Oxford Academic. 355- 360

Hunt, P., Backman, G., Bueno De Mesquita, J., Finer, L., Khosla, R., Korljan, D. and Oldring, L., (2015). The right to the highest attainable standard of health. In: Oxford Textbook of Global Public Health (6th edition). Editors: Detels, R., Guilford, M., Karim, QA. and Tan, CC., . Oxford University Press. 277- 292. 9780199661756

Hunt, P., Bueno De Mesquita, J., Lee, J-Y. and Way, SA., (2013). Implementation of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. In: Routledge Handbook of International Human Rights Law. Editors: Rodley, N. and Sheeran, S., . Routledge. 545- 562. 9780415620734

MacNaughton, G. and Hunt, PH., (2011). A Human Rights-Based Approach to Social Impact Assessment. In: New Directions in Social Impact Assessment: Conceptual and Methodological Advances. Editors: Vanclay, F. and Esteves, AM., . Edward Elgar. 355- 368. 9781849801171

Bueno De Mesquita, J., Hunt, P. and Khosla, R., (2011). The human rights responsibility of international assistance and cooperation in health. In: Universal Human Rights and Extraterritorial Obligations. Editors: Gibney, M. and Skogly, S., . University of Pennsylvania Press. 104- 129. 9780812242157

De Mesquita, JB., Hunt, P. and Khosla, R., (2011). The human rights responsibility of international assistance and cooperation in health. In: Forgotten Genocides: Oblivion, Denial, and Memory. 104- 129. 9780812243352

(2010). Global Health and Human Rights. In: Global Health and Human Rights: Legal and Philosophical Perspectives. Routledge. 28- 61. 9780415479387

Hunt, PH. and Khosla, R., (2010). Holding Pharmaceutical Companies to Account: A UN Special Rapporteur's Mission to GlaxoSmithKline. In: The Delivery of Human Rights: Essays in honour of Professor Sir Nigel Rodley. Editors: Gilbert, G., Hampson, FJ. and Sandoval, C., . Routledge. 39- 67. 9780415579926

Hunt, PH. and Khosla, R., (2009). Climate change and the right to the highest attainable standard of health. In: Human Rights and Climate Change. Editors: Humphreys, S., . Cambridge University Press. 238- 256. 9780521762762

Hunt, PH. and Backman, G., (2009). Health systems and the right to the highest attainable standard of health. In: Realizing the Right to Health. Editors: Clapham, A. and Robinson, M., . Ruffer and Rub. 40- 59. 9783907625453

Hunt, P. and Bueno De Mesquita, J., (2009). Poverty, Health and the Right to the Highest Attainable Standard of Health. In: Partnerships for Women?s Health: Striving for Best Practice within the UN Global Compact. Editors: Timmermann, M. and Kruesmann, M., . United Nations University Press. 9789280811858

Hunt, P., Backman, G., Bueno De Mesquita, J., Finer, L., Khosla, R., Korljan, D. and Oldring, L., (2009). The right to the highest attainable standard of health. In: Oxford Textbook of Public Health (5th edition). Editors: Detels, R., Beaglehole, R., Lansang, MA. and Gulliford, M., . Oxford University Press. 9780199218707

Hunt, PH., (2008). Foreword to Development with a Body: Sexuality, Human Rights and Development. In: Development with a Body: Sexuality, Human Rights and Development. Editors: Cornwall, A., Corr�a, S. and Jolly, S., . Zed Books. xi- xiv. 9781842778906

Hunt, PH. and MacNaughton, G., (2007). A Human Rights-Based Approach to Health Indicators. In: Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in Action. Editors: Baderin, M. and McCorquodale, R., . Oxford University Press. 303- 330. 9780199217908

Conferences (1)

Hunt, PH., (2014). Equality - The Road Less Travelled

Hunt, PH. and Khosla, R., (2009). The Role of Courts in the Implementation of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights: A Right to Health Case Study

Potts, H. and Hunt, PH., (2008). Accountability and the right to the highest attainable standard of health

Hunt, PH., (2008). Draft human rights guidelines for pharmaceutical companies, comments on draft guidelines for pharmaceutical companies, press release for draft guidelines for pharmaceutical companies

Hunt, PH. and Backman, G., (2008). Health systems and the right to the highest attainable standard of health

Hunt, PH. and Khosla, R., (2008). Human Rights Guidelines for Pharmaceutical Companies in relation to Access to Medicines: the Sexual and Reproductive Health Context

Potts, H. and Hunt, PH., (2008). Participation and the right to the highest attainable standard of health

Hunt, PH., (2008). Press releases, statements and interviews related to work of Paul Hunt as UN Special Rapporteur on the right to the highest attainable standard of health, August 2002-July 2008

Hunt, P., Steward, R., Bueno De Mesquita, J. and Oldring, L., (2007). Neglected diseases: a human rights analysis

Hunt, PH. and van Es, A., (2007). Our right to the highest attainable standard of health / Notre droit au meilleur état de santé susceptible d'être atteint / Nuestro derecho al disfrute del más alto nivel posible de salud

Hunt, P. and Bueno De Mesquita, J., (2007). Reducing maternal mortality: the contribution of the right to the highest attainable standard of health

Hunt, P. and Bueno De Mesquita, J., (2007). The rights to sexual and reproductive health

Hunt, PH. and MacNaughton, G., (2006). Impact Assessments, Poverty and Human Rights: A Case Study Using the Right to the Highest Attainable Standard of Health

Hunt, PH., (2010).Supplementary Note on the UN Special Rapporteur's Report on Maternal Mortality in India (A/HRC/14/20/Add.2),Human Rights Centre

Hunt, PH., (2008).Human Rights Council Statement, 11 March 2008

Hunt, PH., (2008).Introduction to work of the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to the highest attainable standard of health, August 2002-July 2008,Human Rights Centre

Hunt, PH., (2008).Statement to UN Human Rights Council Panel on Maternal Mortality and the Human Rights of Women, 5 June 2008

Hunt, PH., (2007).Poverty, Malaria and the Right to Health: Exploring the Connections, Annual lecture on malaria and human rights

Hunt, PH., (2007).Statment to General Assembly Third Committee, 25 October

Hunt, PH., (2007).Launch of the International Initiative on Maternal Mortality, Women Deliver Conference, 19 October 2007

Hunt, PH., (2007).Public Health and Human Rights: at the Crossroads

Hunt, PH., (2007).Human Rights Council Statement, 28 March 2007

Hunt, PH., (2006).Public health and human rights: at the crossroads

Hunt, PH., (2006).Statement to General Assembly Third Committee, 19 October 2006

Hunt, PH., (2006).Inaugural address, International Federation of Health and Human Rights Organisations and Edhucasalud conference 2006

Hunt, PH., (2006).Statement to Human Rights Council, 21 September 2006

Hunt, PH., (2006).Closing remarks on participation and the right to the highest attainable standard of health, Third National Health conference, Peru, 13 July 2006

Hunt, PH., (2006).Taking Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Seriously

Hunt, PH., (2005).Opening remarks by the UN Special Rapporteur, London launch of the Call to Action on the right to health, 9 December 2005

Hunt, PH., (2005).General Assembly, Third Committee, Oral Remarks, 28 October 2005

Hunt, PH., (2005).Valedictory address, 10th International Women and Health Meeting, 21-25 September 2005

Hunt, PH., (2005).Right to Health: Practical Implications of Fulfilment

Hunt, PH., (2005).Statement to Commission on Human Rights, 29 March 2005

Hunt, PH., (2004).Oral remarks to General Assembly, Third Committee, 29 October 2004

Hunt, PH., (2004).Opening remarks, Human Rights Watch/Open Society Institute Panel Discussion on the Human Rights of Drug Users in an era of HIV/AIDS, 1 April 2004

Hunt, PH., (2004).Statement to Commission on Human Rights, 30 March 2004

Hunt, PH., (2003).Statement to General Assembly, Third Committee, 11 November 2003

Hunt, PH., (2003).The Right to Health: New Opportunities and Challenges, Plenary Session: panel presentation

Hunt, PH., (2003).Rights to Sexual and Reproductive Health, Panel discussion: presentation

Hunt, PH., (2003).Presentation for FIAN Conference on Ten Years After the Vienna World Conference on Human Rights

Hunt, PH., (2003).Towards Development: Human rights and the WTO agenda, panel discussion presentation

Hunt, PH., (2003).Statement to Commission on Human Rights, Item 10 on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, 3 April 2003

Hunt, PH., (2003).Sexual Minorities, Commission on Human Rights, NGO panel presentation

Grants and funding

2018

Enhancing the mental health and human rights engagement and research capacity of the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to health, Dr Dainius Puras

Open Society Foundation

Report on the Criminalization of Impartial Health Care

Swiss Foreign Affairs Department

2017

Enhancing civil society engagement and the research capacity of the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to health, Dr Dainius Puras

Open Society Foundation

2015

Enhancing civil society engagement and the research capacity of an UN Special Rapporteur on the right to health

Foundation to Promote Open Society

2012

Population Dynamics, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights

GIZ (GmbH)

2011

Sector Project: Population Dynamics, Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights

GIZ (GmbH)

Contact

phmhunt@essex.ac.uk

Location:

Colchester Campus

Academic support hours:

Monday 13:30 - 15:00