Health 2020: multisectoral action for the health of migrants: thematic brief on migration
Abstract
Migration has been recognized as one of the greatest challenges societies are facing and will face during the upcoming decades. Human mobility causes an increase in diversity across societies, posing several integration and demographic challenges. Health systems must be flexible and adapt to people’s diverse health profiles and needs. Further, the right to health is a universal value inspiring many countries’ constitutional laws. The health of migrants must therefore be ensured in accordance with respecting human rights principles to enable migrating populations to contribute socially, economically and politically to societies. This notion formed the basis of resolution WHA61.17 on the heath of migrants endorsed by the World Health Assembly in 2008. Moreover, addressing migration and health engages a variety of non-state and government actors, such as home and foreign affairs, justice, labour, social affairs, education and health, whose policies and interventions have implications across sectors. Multisectoral, multilevel and transnational approaches are the way forward to enable coordinated, structural and sustainable change in this area. This policy brief aims to provide policy-makers and leading government officials with an overview of the main government actors involved in this process as well as key intersectoral action to improve the health of migrants and their public health impact.Citation
World Health Organization. Regional Office for Europe. (2016). Health 2020: multisectoral action for the health of migrants: thematic brief on migration. World Health Organization. Regional Office for Europe. https://iris.who.int/handle/10665/363283