Rabat’s declaration to improve the health of immigrants and refugees was adopted

Ministers and government representatives approved a basic political statement, Rabat statementTo strengthen international commitment to improve the health of migrants and refugees.

The Rabat Declaration was adopted during the High Level Session of the Third International Consultation on Migrants and Refugee Health held on 13-15 June 2023. The event is organized in collaboration The Government of Morocco, the World Health Organization (WHO), IOM, the United Nations Refugee Agency and UNHCR, the United Nations Refugee Agency, were attended by government representatives from 48 United Nations Member States. (1) and observers as well as representatives of humanitarian organizations, civil society and refugee and refugee communities and United Nations agencies.

The meeting aims to promote the inclusion of refugees and migrants in national health systems as part of the universal health coverage movement and to build sustainable and sustainable health emergency prevention, preparedness and response capacities.

Globally, one in eight people is a refugee or has been forcibly displaced by conflict, persecution, environmental degradation, or lack of human security and opportunity.

Assessing progress made on migrant and refugee health and taking into account lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, countries endorsing the Rabat Declaration:

• Accelerating efforts to improve the health of refugees, migrants and their host communities;
• Addressing the root causes that negatively impact their health; And
• Work to include health and social protection issues in national policies related to refugees and migrants.

The declaration reaffirms the right of everyone, including refugees and migrants, to physical and mental health.

Accrediting professional health certifications, developing information and communication channels to prevent misconceptions and misinformation, ensuring a safe working environment for refugees and migrants, and investing in participatory and relevant information systems are key to promoting high-quality international research. to the goals.

Countries that support this are strengthening international and transnational cooperation to protect refugees and migrants and their host communities through policies and plans to protect, prepare for, respond to and recover from epidemics and other public health emergencies.

Stakeholders pledged to develop inclusive financing mechanisms to reduce budgetary pressures on national systems and empower migrants and refugees to meaningfully participate in health policy discussions to identify and design appropriate interventions for their health needs.

Quotations from authorities:

“The holding of this meeting by the Government of Morocco supports our country’s relentless efforts for social justice, believing that health is a fundamental right for everyone, including refugees and migrants. In this context, Morocco is considered a meeting point between Africa, Europe and the Middle East and is seen as a transit point for migration. And the phenomenon of asylum is an integral part of the history of the Moroccan state. It is a welcoming country and a safe haven for all who seek it.”

Khalid Ait Taleb, Minister of Health and Social Protection of the Government of Morocco

“Refugees and migrants face significant health risks, and face 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 decency. Because health is for everyone, including immigrants and refugees.

Director General of the World Health Organization, Theodore Adhanom Ghebreyesus

“Our ultimate goal of this consultation is to introduce appropriate interventions that improve, protect and preserve the health and well-being of all migrants and refugees and host communities. This goal cannot be achieved without political commitment and a whole-of-government approach. This means involving representatives of health, finance, foreign affairs, interior, planning and other senior officials.

Ahmed Al-Mandhari, Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean of the World Health Organization

“Member States today pledged that no one will be left behind when addressing the health needs of forcibly displaced people. They pledged not only to include refugees, migrants and their host communities in national health policies and plans, but also to include them in a meaningful way. Policy health dialogues are a major step forward for universal health coverage.” And they are eligible for international support.

Raouf Mazou, UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner for Operations

“IOM is encouraged by the Rabat Declaration, which expresses a universal commitment to promoting the health of refugees and migrants. This consultation will be a milestone in incorporating governments’ political commitment to enhance international cooperation and mutual support to improve the health of refugees and migrants, and inform upcoming high-level health and migration meetings and forums.

Othman Belbeisi, IOM MENA Regional Director

Note to editors

The Third International Consultation on Migrants and Migrants’ Health served as an important platform for a meaningful and sustained dialogue on the health of migrants and refugees in various sectors. It provided an opportunity to examine progress, emerging challenges and opportunities to scale up action in compliance with the Sustainable Development Goals, the Global Compact for Refugees, the Global Compact for Migration and the WHO GAP principles.

The third international consultation aims to inform policy decisions, contribute to relevant international goals and implement appropriate interventions that improve, protect and preserve the health and well-being of all refugees and migrants and host communities..

For more information please contact:

World Health Organization – [email protected]

IOM: Safa Sheli, [email protected]

UNHCR: Olga Sarado [email protected]