PHM-Exch> WHO's WHA fails the challenge of refugee and migrant health

[Claudio Schuftan]

From: David <dlegge at phmovement.org>

Member states determined to avoid accountability for action on refugee and
migrant health

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<https://mailchi.mp/4227901e4e28/refugee-and-migrant-health?e=916df65fd1>
WHO member states determined to avoid accountability for action on refugee
and migrant health

WHO has adopted a new Global Action Plan for the Health of Migrants and
Refugees (in A72/25 Rev.1
<https://phmovement.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=559d715f58f654accf3de987e&id=d8a58076ec&e=916df65fd1>)
after bruising negotiations before and during the 72nd World Health
Assembly. Several member states, led by Mexico, deplored the lack of
transparency in the development of the final draft of the plan (which was
published two days *after* the commencement of the Assembly).
Lack of member state accountability

The Plan has no options for member state action and the weak provisions for
member state accountability, regarding migrant and refugee health in
earlier drafts, have also been removed. As Portugal
<https://phmovement.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=559d715f58f654accf3de987e&id=d845d3f660&e=916df65fd1>
commented during the debate:
*.. we are particularly disappointed with the fact that all recommendations
directed to Member States have been withdrawn during the drafting process.*
*since the action plan was already deprived of recommendations to Member
States, we would have hoped that at least the decision of this Assembly
contained a strong invitation for States to report on the progress made at
the national level on the promotion of migrants’ and refugees’ health.*

Mexico
<https://phmovement.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=559d715f58f654accf3de987e&id=63a493707f&e=916df65fd1>
was particularly critical that an obligation on member states to report on
their actions for migrant and refugee health had been withdrawn. Lebanon
and Pakistan spoke against an obligation on member states to report. They
were concerned that reporting obligations would unfairly focus attention on
their difficulties in managing huge refugee populations with very limited
resources. Lebanon commented that 1/3 of its population are refugees and it
faces huge financial challenges.
Human rights ignored

The Plan mentions human rights repeatedly but references to the Global
Compact on Migration
<https://phmovement.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=559d715f58f654accf3de987e&id=b86b033f08&e=916df65fd1>
(which includes strong and specific rights clauses) have been virtually
expunged during the negotiations.

The Global Health Council commented that, "*Thousands of migrant children
seeking safe haven in the U.S. have been forcibly separated from their
parents since 2017. Studies overwhelmingly demonstrate the irreparable harm
caused by breaking up families.*"

Objective 13 of the Global Compact aims that countries "*Use immigration
detention only as a measure of last resort and work towards alternatives*"
and urges that "*immigration detention is not promoted as a deterrent or
used as a form of cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment to migrants*". It
is not surprising that countries like the USA and Australia which
explicitly use immigration detention as a deterrent do not wish to be
accountable.

Inserted in the new Plan (behind closed doors) is a provision requiring WHO
to provide support for the development of intercountry surveillance tools
and mechanisms for the exchange of data on the health of refugees and
migrants. In a side event on the health of refugees and migrants the World
Bank spoke of the potential for tracking the movement of migrants and
refugees through mobile technologies, namely apps with access to location.
Root causes ignored

The Plan lacks any reference to the root causes driving migrant and refugee
crises around the world. Objective 2 of the Global Compact aims to *Minimise
the adverse drivers and structural factors that compel people to leave
their country of origin.*

As Medicus Mundi International with PHM
<https://phmovement.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=559d715f58f654accf3de987e&id=37438a4138&e=916df65fd1>
commented, the Plan *ignores the root causes, particularly, a global system
that is economically unstable with widening economic inequality. It is
destabilising the human environment, including through climate breakdown,
and is generating economic, food and personal insecurity for billions.*
Xenophobia versus solidarity

References to xenophobia in an earlier draft of the Plan have been reduced
to 'misperceptions'. As Mexico pointed out, *we have witnessed a hardening
of expressions of racism, discrimination and xenophobia that threaten
migrants and their families, and can put them at risk the enjoyment of
their fundamental rights, including the right to health.*

In their intervention MMI with PHM pointed out: *Many HICs have abdicated
their global responsibility, introduced hostile environments towards
migrants, encouraging fear, racism, xenophobia and denied access to health.*

Mexico stressed that the GAP “*needs a stronger reference to solidarity and
cooperation under the shared responsibility approach, understanding that to
be effective, the health actions of migrants they require greater
harmonization and coordination between the countries of origin, transit and
destination.*
"These are fundamental issues"

In a statement following the Assembly, spokesperson for People's Health
Movement, Ms Ana Vračar said:
*These are fundamental issues. Irreversible harm is being done to ordinary
decent human beings. It is bizarre to recognise the dramatic increase in
the number of migrants and asylum seekers over the last two decades and
ignore:*

   - *the role of war, communal violence and climate change in driving
   migration and asylum seeking;*
   - *the role of economic stagnation and widening inequality which,
   through poverty, contribute to driving migration;*
   - *global imperialism under which big powers can invade smaller
   countries with impunity;*
   - *neoliberal globalisation, always approaching the brink of collapse
   but stabilising itself through further immiseration of the ‘reserve armies
   of the poor’; and*
   - *a ‘free trade’ regime which promotes free movement of all of the
   inputs to production except labour.*


*It is deeply concerning that people's anxieties in the face of large scale
displacement are being manipulated by demagogue politicians, and their
financial backers, who stoke racism and xenophobia to direct attention away
from the structural causes of such displacements.   Progressive governments
and social movements must address the root causes which drive asylum and
security seekers.  We must also address the policies which contribute to
racism, xenophobia and protofascism, including economic insecurity and
alienation associated with globalisation, marketization, and individualism.*
More

For full coverage of the WHA consideration of refugee and migrant health
see the PHM item page, which includes: summary of issues in focus at the
Assembly; background notes; PHM commentary and the WHO watchers' notes of
the debate.

Access all of the documents and debates from the World Health Assembly from
the WHO Tracker at who-track.phmovement.org/wha72
<https://phmovement.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=559d715f58f654accf3de987e&id=71c8bcbad3&e=916df65fd1>.
Review previous Update Reports from WHA72 here
<https://phmovement.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=559d715f58f654accf3de987e&id=2787c2963d&e=916df65fd1>
.
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