Visit to Japan from 15 to 26 November 2012

The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to the highest attainable standard of health (right to health), Mr. Anand Grover, will be on a country mission to Japan from 15 to 26 November 2012. During the mission, the Special Rapporteur will consider issues related to the enjoyment of the right to health, including availability, accessibility, acceptability and quality of health services, goods and facilities, as well as the underlying determinants of health in Japan. More specifically, he will also address the realization of the right to health within the context of the Great East Japan Earthquake, the events leading to it, including emergency response, recovery and mitigation with a particular focus on challenges and actions taken in response to them, as well as lessons learned and good practices. The missions of the Special Rapporteur involve meetings with government officials, international governmental organizations and non-governmental organizations, and usually include site visits to hospitals, clinics, prisons and other areas of relevant interest. The mission will result in a report with recommendations, which will be submitted to the Human Rights Council in June 2013.