Professor Paul Hunt
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Email
phmhunt@essex.ac.uk -
Location
Colchester Campus
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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 and Acting General Secretary 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, 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 the first UN Special Rapporteur on the right to the highest attainable standard of health. In this capacity, he submitted some 30 reports to the UN General Assembly, UN Commission on Human Rights, and UN Human Rights Council. In 2011-2012, Professor Hunt was Senior Human Rights Advisor to Dr. Flavia Bustreo, Assistant Director-General, World Health Organisation. Between 2019 and January 2024, Professor Hunt was appointed by New Zealand's Governor-General to serve as Chief Human Rights Commissioner. During his five-year term, Professor Hunt and his Commission colleagues responded to the Christchurch massacres of March 2019, the global pandemic, the occupation of parliamentary grounds which ended in violence, a severe housing crisis, escalating online harm, extreme weather events, the impact of Israel/Gaza on the country's social cohesion, and the ongoing impacts of colonisation on the indigenous peoples of Aotearoa/New Zealand. He has been awarded two Honorary Doctorates (Nordic School of Public Health, 2008, and University of Waikato, 2021) and the Ann Dysart Distinguished Service Award. Professor Hunt has published extensively on human rights, especially economic, social, and cultural rights. phmhunt@essex.ac.uk
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
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Human Rights: Theories and Applications (HU901)
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Human Rights: Global Diversity and Global Challenges (HU930)
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International Human Rights Law: Law and Practice (LW901)
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Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in Context (LW930)
Previous supervision
Degree subject: Human Rights and Research Methods
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 27/6/2024
Degree subject: Human Rights
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 21/12/2023
Degree subject: Human Rights
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 4/10/2021
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. Editors: Harrington, J. and Stuttaford, M., . 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
Reports and Papers (16)
Hunt, PH., Sander, G., Hathi, S., Meguid, T. and Were, M., (2014). Country Report on Malawi, in Every woman, every child: a post-2015 vision: the third report of the Independent Expert Review Group on Information and Accountability for Women's and Children's Health
Hunt, PH., Sander, G., Barroso, C. and Ferrier, K., (2014). Country Report on Peru, in Every woman, every child: a post-2015 vision: the third report of the Independent Expert Review Group on Information and Accountability for Women's and Children's Health
Hunt, PH., Sander, G., Hathi, S., Meguid, T., Were, M., Barroso, C. and Ferrier, K., (2014). Country Reports on Malawi and Peru, in Every woman, every child: a post-2015 vision
Hunt, P. and Bueno De Mesquita, J., (2009). International Assistance and Cooperation in Sexual and Reproductive Health: a Human Rights Responsibility for Donors
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. 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, 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
Other (34)
Hunt, PH., (2015).Is the UN Human Rights Council delivering on its mandate to mainstream human rights?,Universal Rights Group
Hunt, PH., (2015).Affidavit of expert witness, TGGL and Family v. Ecuador,Inter-American Court of Human Rights
Hunt, PH., (2012).Affidavit of expert witness, Gretel Artavia Murillo et al. ("In Vitro Fertilisation") v. Costa Rica,Inter-American Court of Human Rights
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)
