PhD defence Renate Dietvorst

"The right of children to health-promoting education and the Healthy Primary School of the Future: The legal framework from a national and international law perspective"

An increasing number of adults and children are suffering from overweight, obesity, and lifestyle related diseases. These conditions pose a serious threat to public health in the Netherlands. To prevent the growing number of people affected by these conditions, preventive measures are necessary. Education can play an important role in the prevention of lifestyle diseases.

Currently, there are already initiatives in the Netherlands within the education sector aimed at improving children's health. One important initiative is the "Healthy Primary School of the Future," which also served as the impetus for this research. This initiative focuses on improving students' health by offering healthy food and promoting physical activity.

Under international human rights frameworks, the Dutch state has an obligation to protect the health of its citizens. This legal dissertation examines the obligations of the Dutch state under these human rights frameworks in protecting children’s health against lifestyle-related conditions such as overweight and obesity. It explores the role that schools play in this context, how schools are currently addressing health promotion, and what is legally possible in this regard. Additionally, the thesis focuses on the interests that may be affected if the Dutch government were to decide to implement a health-promoting program, such as the Healthy Primary School of the Future, mandatory nationwide.

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