This was discussed on Saturday at a public meeting held by the United Nations Association of New Zealand Otago and Southland branches, at the Dunningham Suite in the Dunedin City Library.
The meeting discussed how these violations related to the build of the new Dunedin hospital and was attended by about 30 people.
Speaking at the meeting was United Nations Association of New Zealand Otago branch treasurer Peter Frost, Southlander Roth Groffman, Cyndee Elder and New Zealand Nurses Organisation president Anne Daniels.
Mr Frost was the first to speak at the meeting and alleged the government was in breach of the United Nations Act 1946 and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
"All citizens in this country have a right to health.
"You have a right to expect that hospitals will be built and that those buildings will provide for the following matters among other healthcare provisions.
"Let's just let that sink in for a minute," Mr Frost said.
The UN Charter stated that "a country's difficult financial situation does not absolve it from having to take action to realise the right to health".
"In Aotearoa, it has been claimed that the government's priorities lie elsewhere and are about tax relief for some or roading for others."
The government "may be" in violation of not only the UN Charter, but also the Declaration of Human Rights, he said.
Equal and timely access to basic health services was a requirement, he said.
"They must be accessible physically as well as financially and on the basis of non-discrimination."
More than 30,000 people marched to the Octagon in support of the new Dunedin hospital last month after the government said it would either down-scale the project or retro-fit the existing hospital.
