Opening Remarks

G Iood morning, everyone. It is my pleasure to be here with you to welcome all of you, and to help launch the 2nd International Conference on Health and Human Rights, or- ganized by the Fran9ois-Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Rights at the Harvard School of Public Health. Before we begin, I would like to acknowledge the pres- ence of a devoted friend of Harvard, and of human rights around the world: Countess Albina du Boisrouvray. As many of you know, it is because of Albina that we have been able to create the new Center, named in memory of her late son. Only yesterday, we were privileged to dedicate the new Francois-Xavier Bagnoud Building at the School of Public Health-one of several events that make up Health and Hu- man Rights week at Harvard. And this week's events, as you may know, begin a year-long series of programs marking the School of Public Health's 75th birthday. So, thank you Albina, and members of the Association Francoois-Xavier Bagnoud, for being here-and for helping give Harvard so much to cel- ebrate, and to look forward to, on this special occasion. One need not look too far these days-indeed, one can look to almost any part of the world-to see how important it is that we understand the nature of human rights, the threats posed to such rights in different societies, and the ways that all of us who care about human rights can act to ensure their protection. The Francois-Xavier Bagnoud Center, and this Conference, are rooted in the idea that there is vital inter- connection between matters of human rights and matters of health, and that coming together in this way can do a great deal to help illuminate the intersection between the two. This Conference, of course, not only brings together two important areas of inquiry. It also brings together individuals from more than twenty nations. It brings together scholars HEALTH AND HUMAN RIGHTS 5