Health and Human Rights Training

In 1999, Dr. Khin Saw Win identified the need to educate health workers, working with people from Burma along the Thai-Burma and India-Burma borders, about the links between health and human rights and about how critical these linkages are in determining the health of individuals and communities.

Working in her capacity as an executive of the Burma Medical Association (BMA), Dr. Khin Saw Win helped organize and present a series of workshops aimed at providing education and training about health and human rights.

The goal of each Health and Human Rights workshop has been to provide health workers with the ability:

1. To acquire a basic understanding of the history, sources and contents of international human rights law and treaties, including the right to health.
2. To understand and explore the value and impact of the links between health and human rights.
3. To analyze the health impacts resulting from violations of human rights.
4. To understand how health workers, people involved in health related fields, and professional organizations like BMA can, by protecting and respecting human rights and ethics, promote health in the community.

The Training of Trainers workshop is a more intensive form of the Health and Human Rights workshop and, in addition, provides health workers with the ability:

1. To develop the capability to work efficiently and effectively in groups.
2. To communicate through presentations and discussions.
3. To form a basic unit of the Health as Human Rights Education Advocacy Network in the border areas of Burma.

2000 December - Health and Human Rights workshops in Mae Sot - Thailand

A 2-day workshop was held in Mae Sot at the Mae Tao clinic [also known as the Dr.Cynthia Clinic or Students' Clinic]. This was the first of a series of two workshops held in the Thai-Burma border area. Report Photo 1 Photo 2 Photo 3

2001 January - Health and Human Rights workshops in Sangkla Buri - Thailand

A 2-day workshop was held in Sangkla Buri at the Halochanee camp. This was the second of a series of two workshops held in the Thai-Burma border area. Report

2002 June - Health and Human Rights workshop in Mae Sot - Thailand

Sixty-one people from 33 different organizations or institutions participated in a 4-day workshop held at the Mae Tao clinic in Mae Sot. Report Photo 1 Photo 2

2003 July - Training of Trainers (T.O.T.) workshop in Mae Sot - Thailand

Twenty people were invited to this T.O.T. workshop with priority given to those people who had successfully completed the Health and Human Rights workshops held in 2000 and 2002. Report Photo 1 Photo 2 Photo 3

2004 February - Health and Human Rights workshop in New Dehli - India

Thirty-five people from different organizations and from the India-Burma border area participated in a 3-day workshop held in New Delhi, India. Report