The first generation of human rights includes civil and political rights such as freedom of speech, freedom of expression, and the right to vote, while the second generation of human rights encompasses social and economic rights such as the right to housing, the right to work, and the right to health. Articles 3 to 21 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights cover the first generation of human rights or negative rights, and articles 22 to 27 include the second generation of human rights or positive rights.

The first generation of human rights, or negative rights (rights that prohibit the government from violating the rights of citizens), is derived from the standards and values found in the constitutions of Western European countries, especially the first 10 amendments of the US Constitution. The second generation of human rights, or positive rights (as the government is obligated to provide for the welfare of all), is derived from the constitution of the former Soviet Union. In countries like the US, the weight of laws leans towards the first generation, while in some countries, the laws heavily favor the second generation of human rights. The right to health, which is rooted in the second generation of human rights, is highly valued in today’s world. The right to physical, mental, and social well-being is an integral part of human rights. Health is necessary for accessing and enjoying other human rights. For this reason, the right to health is recognized in all human rights charters.

In the preamble of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) constitution, the right of every person to access the highest attainable level of health is recognized. In Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the term “highest attainable level of health” is not mentioned, but it is emphasized that every individual has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of themselves and their family, including food, clothing, housing, medical care, and necessary social services. It is also emphasized that every person has the right to social security in situations such as unemployment, illness, disability, old age, or any other circumstances where they have lost their means of livelihood due to factors beyond their control.

The right to health is one of the most comprehensive concepts in Article 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; according to paragraph 2 of this article, member countries of this agreement are committed to preventing and treating communicable, indigenous, occupational and other diseases, as well as fighting against these diseases and creating suitable conditions for providing medical services and assistance to the public in case of illness.

According to human rights publications, governments are primarily responsible for the health of their citizens. These responsibilities include preventive services, screening, and providing essential medicines and treatment for diseases. However, for various reasons, governments are not always able to guarantee the health of individuals in society as accepted and approved in international agreements. In such circumstances, citizens in society, as one of their civic responsibilities in modern society, take action and start their activities in the field of social action, and non-governmental human rights organizations and charities begin their work in this area.

Welfare and charity institutions are organizations that provide services to the citizens of a community without any economic profit motive, solely for the purpose of improving the well-being of the society. Inside and outside of Iran, various institutions and foundations are dedicated to promoting the health and well-being of their fellow citizens, utilizing their abilities and capacities to improve the situation of Iranians. This type of valuable and new activity can be very beneficial, especially considering the challenges faced by the Iranian society outside of Iran. In order to fulfill their role in human rights, it is necessary for civic entrepreneurs to establish institutions that address the needs of the society and work towards increasing the well-being of Iranians through creativity. This type of activity has been increasingly seen among the Iranian community in recent years and is a sign of the necessary learning for the improvement of the health and well-being of Iranians.

Let’s take a look at some of the social issues of the Iranian community in America. According to what has been said and considering the statistics from the US Census Bureau and vital statistics of the United States, it seems that in the current conditions, the Iranian community outside of Iran needs more than ever to unite and help each other. Some statistics related to the conditions of the Iranian community residing in America are very concerning. The statistics show that more than 7.5% of Iranians living in America do not have health insurance. Iranian residents in America face obstacles such as language, income, gender, cultural differences, lack of health insurance, and lack of understanding of Iranian family structures in order to receive medical care. Additionally, 7% of Iranians living in America are not able to have even basic conversations in English and are essentially unable to access public health services.

The civil society of Iran has had significant advancements in the field of human rights and the first generation of human rights, and social networks have been created to promote human rights. However, considering the indivisibility of human rights, it is certain that the responsibility of human rights activists is not limited to the first generation of human rights. The function of human rights activists is to put pressure on those in power, impose costs on policymakers, and expose the violations of human rights against individuals. Human rights activists must also be active in the second generation of human rights and consider the destructive and negative role of violating social, economic, and cultural rights. The duty of human rights activists is to convey the voices of the oppressed and deprived to the general public and remind policymakers of their duties. An important layer of activity is the establishment of institutions outside the private and government sectors. This civil sector is made up of forces who work creatively and entrepreneurially to organize society. Social entrepreneurship is the use of the creativity and initiative

In recent years, the issue of citizenship rights has become a hot topic in the field of human rights. The discussion of citizenship rights is still centered around negative rights or first-generation human rights, which have a limited definition. Human rights activism in the field of citizenship is an effort to establish institutions and organize forces to promote the rights outlined in Articles 22-27 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The focus of human rights discussions in Iranian society is on first-generation human rights and negative rights.

Hope is that in the coming years, intellectuals and creative forces of Iranian society will join hands and, based on the indivisibility of human rights, engage in discussions and practical efforts to promote second-generation human rights, including the right to health and well-being, in service of their fellow human beings.