PHA-Exchange> WHO: International Migration, Health and Human Rights

[Aviva]

From: "Ruggiero, Mrs. Ana Lucia (WDC)" <ruglucia at PAHO.ORG>

International Migration, Health and Human Rights
Department of Ethics, Trade, Human Rights and Law (ETH)
Sustainable Development and Healthy Environments (SDE)
World Health Organization

Available online as PDF file [1MB - 40p.] at
http://www.who.int/hhr/activities/en/intl_migration_hhr.pdf

NEW PUBLICATION CALLS FOR GREATER ATTENTION TO THE LINKAGES BETWEEN
INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION, HEALTH AND HUMAN RIGHTS

On the occasion of the International Day of Migrants on December 18,
WHO and
several collaborators are launching the publication "International
Migration, Health and Human Rights".

Approximately 175 million people - not including the increasing number
of
irregular or undocumented migrants - currently live temporarily or
permanently outside their countries of origin. They are susceptible to
many
more health risks than are nationals.

But the issue of migrants' health is often unrecognized, and migrants
themselves consequently have less access to the health care services
they
need.

The new publication draws attention to important human rights issues
that
migration poses for health policy-makers internationally, such as the
health
implications of forced migration as well as detaining and screening
migrants
at the borders.

The book will serve as a guide to emphasize important human rights
principles by which governments, policymakers and other actors can
design
and implement health policies and programmes in the context of
migration. It
sets out to demonstrate the need for further attention, research and
elaboration of policy approaches in this area.