Insufficient response of Spain to the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva

In January, Ignacio Ybáñez, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, on behalf of the Spanish Government stated their commitment to accept the recommendations, once they studied the recommendations carefully.

During the Universal Periodic Review, seven countries expressly asked Spain to take various measures in health to provide and guaranteed access to universal health care to all citizens without any discrimination, regardless of their administrative status.

At the meeting hold on June 25th in Geneva, Ana Maria Menendez Perez, Permanent Ambassador to the UN, participated on behalf of Spain. After the round of interventions, the Ambassador, in her turn to reply, pointed out that the Minister of Health is working on the design of a program that allows access to health care for immigrants. According to Menendez Perez, this task is being carrying out in coordination with the different public administrations.

The battery of recommendations for eliminating discrimination in the enjoyment of social rights such as the right to health, have been included in the block of recommendations that the Government plans as "partially accepted". This consideration responds to measures which, according to Ana Maria Menendez, "we cannot put into practice, whether or not we agree", for budgetary, legal or constitutional grounds.

Source: Médicos del Mundo