Rabat Declaration: Strengthening Global Commitment to Improve the Health of Refugees and Migrants
Introduction
The adoption of the Rabat Declaration by ministers and government representatives signifies an innovative approach to enhancing the health of refugees and migrants worldwide. This political declaration was the result of the Third Global Consultation on Refugee and Migrant Health, held from June 13 to 15, 2023. The event was co-organized by the Kingdom of Morocco, the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Representatives from 50 Member States of the United Nations, along with observers, humanitarian organizations, civil society, and refugee and migrant communities, attended the consultation.
Promoting Inclusion and Universal Health Coverage
The primary objective of the meeting was to advocate for the inclusion of refugees and migrants in national health systems as part of the global movement for universal health coverage. In addition, the gathering aimed to work towards resilient and sustainable capacities for prevention, preparedness, and response to health emergencies. This is of utmost importance considering that one in eight people worldwide is a migrant or forcibly displaced due to factors like conflict, persecution, environmental degradation, or lack of security and human opportunity.
Commitments for Improving Health
Recognizing the progress made in the health of refugees and migrants and the lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, countries supporting the Rabat Declaration committed to the following:
- Accelerate efforts to improve the health of refugees, migrants, and their host communities.
- Address the root causes that negatively influence their health.
- Incorporate health and social protection considerations in national policies related to refugees and migrants.
These commitments underscore the right of every human being, including refugees and migrants, to enjoy the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.
Key Areas of Focus
The Rabat Declaration emphasizes several key areas to strengthen the health of refugees and migrants:
- Recognition of health professional certifications to ensure appropriate healthcare standards.
- Improvement of information and communication channels to counter misperceptions and misinformation.
- Provision of safe work environments for refugees and migrants.
- Investment in inclusive and appropriate data systems and high-quality global research.
Inclusive Approaches and Collaboration
The Rabat Declaration also highlights the commitment to including refugee and migrant populations, along with their host communities, in policies and plans for prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery from pandemics and other public health emergencies. Such holistic approaches require strengthening international collaboration and cross-border partnerships.
Furthermore, inclusive financing mechanisms are envisioned to reduce budgetary pressures on national health systems. These mechanisms aim to promote the meaningful participation of refugees and migrants in health policy debates. By involving them in decision-making processes, policymakers can identify and design interventions that cater to their unique health needs.
Insights and Perspectives
The Rabat Declaration represents a significant milestone in global efforts to improve the health of refugees and migrants. By shifting the focus towards inclusion and universal health coverage, it acknowledges the fundamental right of everyone, regardless of their migration status, to access adequate healthcare services.
This commitment to protecting the health and dignity of refugees and migrants aligns with the principles of human rights and human decency. It recognizes the challenges they face during their journeys and in the countries that host them. Moreover, it emphasizes the importance of addressing the socio-economic and political factors that influence their health.
Efforts to improve the health of refugees and migrants should go beyond providing immediate medical assistance. Long-term solutions must tackle the root causes and systemic issues that perpetuate health disparities in this vulnerable population. For example, addressing social determinants of health, such as poverty, discrimination, and inadequate access to education, can contribute to better health outcomes among refugees and migrants.
Furthermore, the successful implementation of the Rabat Declaration relies on political commitment and a whole-of-government approach. Involvement of ministries of health, finance, foreign affairs, interior, planning, and other relevant sectors is crucial to ensure comprehensive action and sustainable outcomes.
Conclusion
The Rabat Declaration establishes a strong foundation for bolstering global commitment to improve the health of refugees and migrants. By advocating for their inclusion in national health systems, addressing root causes of health disparities, and promoting universal health coverage, this political declaration aims to transform healthcare delivery for this vulnerable population. The commitments outlined in the Rabat Declaration pave the way for comprehensive policies and interventions that prioritize the health and well-being of refugees, migrants, and their host communities.
Summary
Ministers and government representatives adopted the Rabat Declaration to strengthen global commitment to improve the health of refugees and migrants. The declaration was adopted during the Third Global Consultation on Refugee and Migrant Health, which took place from June 13 to 15, 2023, with the participation of government representatives from 50 Member States of the United Nations, observers, humanitarian organizations, civil society, and refugee and migrant communities. The declaration aims to promote the inclusion of refugees and migrants in national health systems, enhance prevention and response to health emergencies, and ensure the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health for all individuals, regardless of their migration status.
The Rabat Declaration commits supporting countries to accelerate efforts to improve the health of refugees, migrants, and their host communities, address the root causes of their health disparities, and integrate health and social protection considerations into national policies related to refugees and migrants. It emphasizes the recognition of health professional certifications, improvement of information and communication channels, provision of safe work environments, and investment in inclusive data systems and high-quality research.
The declaration also emphasizes the importance of including refugees, migrants, and their host communities in policies and plans for public health emergencies, fostering inclusive financing mechanisms, and promoting their meaningful participation in health policy debates. By adopting the Rabat Declaration, countries demonstrate their commitment to leave no one behind in addressing the health needs of forcibly displaced people and to work towards universal health coverage.
The successful implementation of the Rabat Declaration necessitates a whole-of-government approach and involvement of various ministries to ensure comprehensive action. Efforts to improve the health of refugees and migrants should go beyond immediate medical assistance and address the socio-economic and political factors that influence their health. By promoting inclusion and addressing root causes, countries can transform healthcare delivery for refugees, migrants, and their host communities and contribute to better health outcomes for all.
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Ministers and government representatives adopted an innovative political declaration, the Rabat Declarationto strengthen global commitment to improve the health of refugees and migrants.
The Rabat Declaration was adopted during the high-level segment of the Third Global Consultation on Refugee and Migrant Health that took place from June 13 to 15, 2023 (1). The event, co-organized by of the Kingdom of Morocco, the World Health Organization (WHO), IOM, the United Nations Migration Agency and UNHCR, the United Nations Refugee Agency, attended by government representatives from 50 Member States of the United Nations and observers, as well as representatives of humanitarian organizations, civil society and refugee and migrant communities and United Nations agencies.
The meeting aimed to promote the inclusion of refugees and migrants in national health systems as part of the global movement for universal health coverage, and to work towards resilient and sustainable capacities for prevention, preparedness and response to health emergencies.
One in eight people worldwide is a migrant or forcibly displaced by factors including conflict, persecution, environmental degradation or a lack of security and human opportunity.
Taking stock of the progress made in the health of refugees and migrants and considering the lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, countries that supported the Rabat Declaration committed to:
- accelerate efforts to improve the health of refugees, migrants and their host communities;
- address the root causes that negatively influence your health; and
- work to include health and social protection considerations in national policies related to refugees and migrants.
The declaration also reaffirms the right of every human being, including refugees and migrants, to enjoy the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.
The declaration highlights the recognition of health professional certifications, improving information and communication channels to counter misperceptions and misinformation, ensuring safe work environments for refugees and migrants, as well as investing in inclusive and appropriate data systems and high-quality global research. towards the goals.
Supporting countries commit to including refugee and migrant populations and their host communities in policies and plans for prevention, preparedness, response and recovery from pandemics and other public health emergencies, while strengthening international collaboration and cross-border.
Stakeholders also commit to fostering inclusive financing mechanisms to reduce budgetary pressures on national systems and promote the meaningful participation of refugees and migrants in health policy debates to identify and design interventions appropriate to their health needs.
Quotes from officials:
“Holding this meeting in the Kingdom of Morocco supports our country’s tireless efforts for social justice, believing that health is a fundamental right for everyone, including migrants and refugees. In this context, the phenomenon of migration and asylum has always been an integral part of the history of the Kingdom of Morocco, since Morocco is considered an intersection point between Africa, Europe and the Middle East, and is seen as a transit point. . a receiving country and a safe haven for anyone who requests it.”
Khalid Ait Taleb, Minister of Health and Social Protection, Kingdom of Morocco
“Refugees and migrants face significant health threats and significant barriers to accessing the health services they need. Protecting the health and dignity of refugees and migrants during their often dangerous journeys and in the countries that host them is a matter of human rights and human decency. Because health for all means for everyone, including refugees and migrants.”
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General, World Health Organization
“Our ultimate goal for this consultation is to promote appropriate interventions that improve, protect and preserve the health and well-being of all refugees and migrants, and host communities. This goal cannot be achieved without political commitment and a whole-of-government approach. And this means involving representatives of the ministries of health, finance, foreign affairs, interior, planning and other senior officials.”
Ahmed Al-Mandhari, Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, World Health Organization
“Member States have today committed that no one will be left behind in addressing the health needs of forcibly displaced people. Their commitment to not only include refugees, migrants and their host communities in national health policies and plans , but also meaningfully include them in “Health policy debates are a significant push towards universal health coverage and deserve global support.”
Raouf Mazou, UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner for Operations
“IOM is encouraged by the Rabat Declaration, which outlines comprehensive commitments to promote the health of refugees and migrants. “This consultation will be a milestone that embodies the political commitment of governments to enhance global collaboration and mutual support to improve the health of migrants and refugees, and to inform upcoming high-level meetings and forums on health and migration.”
Othman Belbeisi, IOM MENA Regional Director
Note to editors
The Third Global Consultation on Refugee and Migrant Health served as a valuable platform for meaningful and sustained dialogue on refugee and migrant health in various sectors. It provided an opportunity to review progress, emerging challenges and opportunities for intensified action, while respecting the principles of the Sustainable Development Goals, the Global Compact on Refugees, the Global Compact for Migration and the UN GAP. WHO.
The Third Global Consultation aimed to inform policy decisions, contribute to relevant international goals and promote the implementation of appropriate interventions that improve, protect and preserve the health and well-being of all refugees and migrants and host communities..
For more information, contact:
WHO – [email protected]
IOM: Safa Msehli, [email protected]
UNHCR: Olga Sarrado [email protected]
1. Algeria reserves its position on the third indent of the preamble of the Rabat Declaration.
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