Migration and health are inextricably linked and key to sustainable development, as accentuated during the pandemic. Unless health service coverage and financial protection measures in all countries include migrants, especially those in vulnerable situations, universal health coverage (UHC) will not be truly universal. Nor will countries achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.8 on access to health and SDG 10.7 on facilitating orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration and mobility of people.
In the lead-up to the International Migration Review Forum (IMRF), the Co-chairs of the Group of Friends of Universal Health Coverage and Global Health (Permanent Missions of Georgia, Japan, & Thailand to the United Nations), the World Health Organization, the International Organization for Migration, and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies are organizing a 90-minute interactive information session on the health of migrants.
This information session will bring together member States and key international stakeholders from different sectors to discuss the global health and migration agenda, towards the IMRF and beyond, while sharing challenges and best practices at global and national levels.
Objectives
- Share promising practices and challenges at global and country levels in fostering cross-sector, complementary decision making that integrates health considerations across policies and services that determine the health of migrants.
- Debate on how to ensure adequate health monitoring, evaluation, and research to support the implementation of the Global Compact for Migration.
- Propose recommendations to inform the IMRF process and beyond, especially the work of policymakers and practitioners.
Audience
The event is open to everyone but is particularly aimed at Member States and key international stakeholders.
Agenda
Moderation: Robert Yates, Executive Director, Centre for Universal Health, Chatham House
15:00 CET/09:00 EDT
Opening remarks and introduction
- H.E. Mr Supark Prongthura, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Thailand to the UN
- H.E. Mr Guillermo Roque Fernandez De Soto Valderrama, Permanent Representative of Colombia to the UN
15:15 CET/09:15 EDT
Remarks by experts (question-based model)
- Dr Santino Severoni, Director, Health and Migration programme, World Health Organization
- Ms Jacqueline Weekers, Director, Migrant Health, International Organization for Migration
- Mr Oscar Chamat-Nuñez, Secretariat General Metropolis · World Association of the Major Metropolises
- Mr Mahmood F. Al-Hamody, IFMSA Liaison Officer for Human Rights and Peace Issues
- Ms Esther Ebimoghan, Africa Regional Focal Point for the migration Youth and Children Platform
16:00 CET/10:00 EDT - Interactive session
16:25 CET/10:25 EDT - Closing remarks