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WHO Global Action Plan to Promote the Health of Refugees and Migrants
Author(s) -
GOSTIN LAWRENCE O.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
the milbank quarterly
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.563
H-Index - 101
eISSN - 1468-0009
pISSN - 0887-378X
DOI - 10.1111/1468-0009.12404
Subject(s) - refugee , library science , action plan , citation , political science , commission , law , computer science , management , economics
1. In its 140th session in January 2017, the WHO Executive Board requested that its Secretariat develop a Framework of priorities and guiding principles to promote the health of refugees and migrants1 in close collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The Framework expected to be a resource for consideration by Member States in addressing the health needs of refugees and migrants. 2. In May 2017, the World Health Assembly endorsed resolution WHA70.15 on promoting the health of refugees and migrants2 and urged Member States, in the frame of their national contexts, priorities and legal frameworks, to strengthen international cooperation and partnerships on the health of refugees and migrants in line with the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants.3 In addition, the WHO Director-General was requested to identify country practices, experiences and lessons learnt on the health of refugees and migrants to contribute to the development of a Global Action Plan (GAP) for consideration at the 72nd World Health Assembly in 2019. 3. Accordingly, from August 2017 to January 2018, WHO conducted an online call for contributions on evidence-based information, country practices, experiences and lessons learnt in addressing the health needs of refugees and migrants. One hundred and ninety-nine inputs covering practices in 90 Member States from all WHO regions were received from Member States and partners, including the UNHCR, IOM and International Labour Organization (ILO). Reports on regional situation analyses and practices in addressing the health needs of refugees and migrants were subsequently published.4 4. Several WHO regional offices have gained remarkable experience in addressing refugee and migrant health challenges. A regional strategy and action plan has been discussed and approved in 2016 by the WHO Regional Committee for Europe.5 Regional migration and health plans are ongoing in other WHO regional offices, such as the Pan American Health Organization and the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean. 5. In order to achieve the vision of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), it is imperative to ensure the implementation and monitoring of the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 19 September 2016,