The Matter of Life and Death: Cyberattacks on Healthcare Infrastructure with Emphasis on the Discussions of the November ۲۰۲۴ UN Security Council Session

The right to benefit from scientific progress, including modern technologies, has always been regarded as one of the fundamental human rights. Today, technology has become an exceptionally valuable tool for identifying deficiencies within specific industries and for addressing problems swiftly and efficiently. This rapidly advancing technology holds particular significance in the field of healthcare. In this context, there is no doubt that technology has strengthened the realization of the right to health; however, it has simultaneously contributed to its violation and erosion. Cyberattacks targeting medical and healthcare facilities are on the rise, placing global healthcare infrastructures at serious risk, significantly disrupting the delivery of medical services, endangering patient safety, and destabilizing healthcare systems worldwide. Consequently, cyberattacks on healthcare infrastructures constitute a global threat that cannot be ignored. During the United Nations Security Council session held on ۸ November ۲۰۲۴, convened at the request of France, Japan, Malta, the Republic of Korea, Slovenia, the United Kingdom (the Council’s rotating presidency for November), and the United States of America, the United States specifically accused Russia of conducting such attacks. Therefore, this article, employing a descriptive–analytical approach and relying on library-based sources, seeks to examine this issue in light of the discussions and findings of that session.

کلیدواژه ها:

Cyberattacks ، Ransomware ، right to health ، World Health Organization ، Security Council