A human right to shoes? Establishing rights and duties in the prevention and treatment of podoconiosis

Podoconiosis is a debilitating chronic swelling of the foot and lower leg, caused by long term exposure to irritant red volcanic clay soil in highland regions of Africa, Central America, and India. In this paper we consider the human rights violations which cause, and are caused by, podoconiosis in Ethiopia. Specifically, we discuss the way in which the right to an adequate basic standard of living is not met in endemic regions, where the following basic necessities are not readily available: robust footwear, education and health literacy, and affordable, accessible healthcare. Those living with podoconiosis experience disablement, stigma and discrimination, and mental distress, contributing to greater impoverishment and a reduced quality of life. We suggest that while identifying rights violations is key to characterising the scale and nature of the problem, identifying duties is critical to eliminating podoconiosis. To this end, we describe the duties of the Ethiopian government, the international community, and those sourcing Ethiopian agricultural products in relation to promoting shoe-wearing, providing adequate health care, and improving health literacy.