Responsibility: Social

The concept of ‘social responsibility’ has first come into use with reference to the actors of economic activity and the various interests and needs of the stakeholders, i.e. the many individuals and organizations on which the actions of a company or a corporation have an impact. According to Article 14 of the Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights of 2005, the concept of social responsibility for health entails a dual aspect. On the one hand, the promotion of health and social development for their people is understood as ‘a central purpose of governments’ that is yet to be shared by ‘all sectors of society’. On the other hand, it is underlined that a broad range of initiatives is required, together with improving access to quality health care, in order to realize the right to the highest attainable standard of health. This responsibility can never be reduced to complying with legally binding rules and is now confronted with global challenges. The possibility to close or at least reduce the gap of inequality depends on our capacity to fight against poverty and illiteracy, improve and share natural and human-made global commons, develop new forms of international cooperation, and strengthen the principle of universal justice through the motivation of cosmopolitan solidarity.