CoE d.SG Battaini-Dragoni to EuroFora: Access to Physical Exercice = part of Human Right to Health

*Strasbourg/PMC/Angelo Marcopolo/- After a keynote Speech at the opening of the European Sport Medicine (EFSMA) Congress, CoE's deputy Secretary General Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni, replying to an "EuroFora"s Question, agreed, in substance, that Access to an Elementry Physical Exercice should be considered as part of Human Rights, given also the crucial importance that it has vis a vis People's Health, as it was strongly stressed on the occasion of this same event, by experienced French Minister for Sports, Valerie Fourneyron, herself a longtime Medical Doctor, and widely documented by recent Scientific Research resumed by EFSMA's President, Joseph Cummiskey from Ireland, and presented at various crucial sectors by Italian Professor Pecorelli and Franco-Brittish Researcher C. Simon, (See Infra).

That's basically why f.ex. Local Authorities should find ways to Open for Free Access to all Inhabitants, currently Closed or Fenced Natural areas and/or Sport Facilities, which often remain Empty, while many, particularly Poor People, are excluded from Access, risking to provoke serious Inequalities on Human Health, agreed, previously, with "EuroFora", the competent French Minister, Valerie Fourneyron (See Infra).

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- "As you know well, there is, inside COE, a still on-going effort for the Recognition of a Human Right to Health", "EuroFora" observed from the outset of our Question to CoE's deputy Secretary General.

- "Considering also what you have just said" (at the EFSMA's Congress), do you think that CoE should consider to include there also at least an elementary Access to Physical Exercice Facilities, (i.e. as Natural Areas, and/or Sport Facilities, etc) ?"; "EuroFora" asked Battaini-Dragoni.

- "Particularly, as you already know, in the extreme case of Prisoners, (CoE's Anti-Torture Committee) CPT, stresses that they need at least a Daily Access to Open Air facilities for Physical Exercise, of at least 1h.40", (condemning, any situation contrary to that, as synonumous to "Inhuman/Degrading Treatment") ?

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- "Yes, absolutely !" "Thank you for raising this Question", since "that's precisely all the main Meaning of Today's event !" (at the EFSMA : Comp. Supra), CoE's deputy Secretary General immediately reacted Positively to "EuroFora"s Question.

- I.e. "to give an adequate space to Physical Exercice, which shouldn't become a drug, no more", because "it must be used at the right Proportion", "in order ... , to have Access to a Balanced Sport Activity".

>>> => This is "in order to favour a Physical Well-being, but also an entire set of a whole Psychological and Emotional Well-being, which can allow to come closer to the concept of <<Health>>, as it is defined by the World Health Organisation" (WHO), Battaini-Dragoni explained in a comprehensive manner.

=> Therefore, it should "be allowed to all individuals, whoever they might be, and there where they are living, (i.e.) without Any Discrimination", CoE's experienced Deputy Secretary General stressed in conclusion of her Reply to "EuroFora"s Question. ----------------------------------------

Indeed, as a recent Study by Franco-Brittish Researcer C. Simon revealed today, there are Growing Inequalities, mainly in Urban areas, among "Different Socio-Economic Status"' groups of Inhabitants, concerning the Accessibility of Nature/Sport Facilities "close to their Homes", which risk to affect Human Health, by provoking more or less OverWeight, in an AppertHeid-like manner...

This new fact appears even more Serious, when one considers also the keynote presentation, made earlier Today by Italian Professor Pecorelli, according to whom, it's even the Brain's functions and development (including of Neurons, etc) xwhich can be (positively or negatively) affected by sufficient or Insufficient Physical Exercice, particularly among a growing Population of Aged People in Europe, determining their Quality of Life, as well as their possible contribution to the Society.

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+ French Minister Valerie Fourneyron to "EuropFora"+

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+ Meanwhile, replying earlier to an "EuroFora" Question on the Obstacles which have recently multiplied in certain Cities by Hindering People's Access to most often Empty Natural areas and/or Sport Facilities, which were previously Open to Free Access by all nearby Inhabitants, risking thus to provoke useless Waste of Money, and dangerous as well as moraly unacceptable Inequalitis on Human Health particularly to the detriment of Poor People, from Youngsters up to Elderly persons, the competent French Minister Valerie Fourneyron, speakig also as an experienced Doctor in Medicine, expressed her Sorrow for the spectacle of several available but Empty Sport/Nature Facilities, while many neighbouring Poor People were curiously excluded by Metal Fences, etc., and anounced her wish for all involved to try to find an adequate Solution.

After she reiterated, for the 1st time Officially Today, at his keynote Speech to the EFSMA Congress, that her Ministry will push for a systematc "Reflexion" about how to Open Public Sport/Nature Facilities' Access to the Inhabitants, Fourneyron also reacted with a Smile to "EuroFora"s subsequent suggestion to "use this as a General Interest tool in order to invite People to judge their Mayors", according to what they will do on that issue, "before the forthcoming, March 2014 Municipal Elections", so that they would be really stimulated to act positively...

(../..)

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(NDLR + Fast Translation from Original text in French)

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("DraftNews", as already sent, earlier, to "EuroFora"s Subsrcibers/Donors. A more accurate and full Final Version might be published asap).

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