Javier Vasquez, PAHO advisor on human rights and law, explains how human rights standards and treaties can help public health advocates highlight the responsibilities of states to protect health as a basic human right. Ministers of health from countries throughout the Americas endorsed the approach this week during PAHO's 50th Directing Council meeting, pledging to work with governmental human rights agencies to evaluate and monitor the implementation of international treaties and standards, particularly as they relate to the right to health for vulnerable groups, including people with mental disorders or disabilities, older people, women and adolescents, people with HIV and indigenous people.