Vermont Campaign for the human right to health care

The Vermont Workers’ Center is carrying out a multi-stage campaign to mobilize people across Vermont by using the human rights principles of universality, equity and accountability to change what is considered “politically possible,” thus building a foundation for healthcare reform that guarantees that everyone can get the healthcare they need, when and where they need it.  NESRI/NHeLP’s Human Right to Health Program is supporting this campaign through advisory inputs.

Health Care is a Human Right Rally on May 1st

On May 1st the Vermont Workers’ Center brought the human right to health care to the nation’s attention with a large rally at the State House in Montpelier. The “Healthcare is a human right” rally was endorsed by over 100 organizations, including NESRI, faith and labor leaders, and other national and state-based organizations. Download the rally flyer >>> Download the press release >>>

Listen below to Episode 7 of NESRI's podcast series. In it, Anja Rudiger, of NESRI's Human Right to Health Program, documents the historic May Day rally. The podcast aired on Philadelphia's Labor Justice Radio (an initiative of the Media Mobilizing Project) May 2009 show.

Episode 7: Vermont Workers' Center's "Human Right to Hea...

NESRI's Podcast

View below a slide show from NESRI's photo gallery documenting the Healthcare is a Human Right rally

View below a pre-rally public service announcement from the Vermont Workers' Center.

Human Rights Documentation: Voices of the Vermont Health Care Crisis

The Vermont Workers' Center surveyed over 1,200 Vermonters and held human rights hearings across the state.  The findings of this documentation are captured in a report and short video. "In this report, we present a collection of voices of Vermonters impacted by the healthcare crisis and present data examining our current healthcare system which is failing us," said Dawn Stanger, President of the Vermont Workers' Center.  "We found that over 95 % of Vermonters believe healthcare should be a human right.  We are organizing a statewide grassroots network to establish healthcare as a human right and making it a public good for everyone." Download the report >>> Watch the video >>>

The People’s Plan: Toward a Human Rights Budget

The Vermont Workers’ Center has been collecting signatures for a People’s Plan, a human rights alternative to proposed state budget cuts. The People’s Plan calls for “establishing a system of universal healthcare that is equitable, is accountable to the people and eliminates all barriers to the enjoyment of the human right to health.” Sign the People’s Plan here >>>

Press Coverage in Vermont

An article entitled "People Power Versus Lobbyists in the Health Care Debate" appeared at Toward Freedom on July 30, 2009. The article asks the question "Can Vermont Lead the Rest of the Country to Health Care Reform?" and quotes James Haslam on the Vermont Workers' Centers' efforts to build "a grassroots network to fundamentally change how we approach health care as a basic public good, as a human right." >>>

James Haslam of the Vermont Workers’ Center wrote an oped entitled “Vermonters Must Lead the Way,” which appeared in the Burlington Free Press on June 28, 2009. Read the oped >>> Another version of the oped appeared in the Bennington Banner on June 25, 2009 >>>

Laurie Larson of the Vermont Healthcare is a Human Right Campaign wrote an oped entitled “My Turn:  Health care is a human right.” that appeared in the Burlington Free Press on May 13, 2009   Read the oped >>>

An article entitled “Hundreds of Vermonters turn out for health-care rally” appeared in the Times Argus on May 2.  Read the article >>>

An article entitled "Hunders rally for universal health care" appeared in the Boston Globe on May 1. Read the article >>>

A news clip entitled "Universal Health Care Supporters Rally at Statehouse" appeared on WPTZ on May 1. View the news clip >>>

An article entitled “Health care rally set for today in Montpelier” appeared in the Burlington Free Press on May 1.  Read the article >>>

Vermont Workers’ Center Director James Haslam was interviewed on Vermont Public Radio on April 29 about the VWC’s Health Care is a Human Right Campaign.  Listen to the interview >>>

An article entitled “Health care rally set to pressure lawmakers” appeared in the Burlington Free Press on April 29.  Read the article >>>

An article entitled “Big health care rally planned Friday” appeared in the Times Argus on April 28.  Read the article >>>

An op-ed on the May 1st rally for the human right to healthcare appeared in the Brattleboro Reformer on April 22. Read the article >>>

Earlier this year the Bennington Banner reported on the Healthcare is a Human Right campaign, featuring activists from the Vermont Workers’ Center denouncing Gov. Douglas’ proposed cuts to state health programs as “a basic attack on the human right to health care" >>>