World Refugee Day 2024

Solidarity in action: Promoting refugee-sensitive health systems

On June 20^th, 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) joins UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency and partners in observing World Refugee Day 2024. In line with this year’s theme, “Solidarity with Refugees”, WHO highlights the importance of building inclusive health systems and ensuring equitable care for refugees worldwide. WHO emphasizes solidarity and health, celebrates the resilience of refugees, protects their health rights and strives to create a world where everyone, regardless of migration status, enjoys universal access to quality health care.

UNHCR estimates that by mid-2023, over 110 million individuals worldwide were forcibly displaced, with 40% being children. 75% of these displaced individuals are housed in low- and middle-income countries. Refugees are not simply recipients of care, but active contributors to health systems globally, serving as skilled health care professionals, cultural mediators, and advocates for equitable access. Data from the WHO World Report on the Health of Refugees and Migrants highlight their influential roles, emphasizing the importance of including refugees in decision-making processes, which increases service quality and cultural competence.

As we celebrate their resilience and honor their contributions, we recognize the challenges refugees face and the urgent need for global solidarity. Despite not being inherently less healthy, millions in vulnerable situations experience poorer health outcomes due to substandard living and working conditions. Prioritizing their right to timely, accessible, affordable, acceptable and dignified health care is essential to achieving health for all.

“Walking the talk”: Examples of WHO’s contributions to refugee health promotion

In line with the Global Plan of Action 2019-2030 to promote the health of refugees and migrants, WHO collaborates with Member States, regional offices and partners to protect the rights of refugees and migrants and health equity. By leading global advocacy efforts, setting standards, generating evidence and fostering partnerships, WHO advances evidence-based approaches to meet the health needs of refugees and migrants, promoting global health equity and rights.

• coordination and direction of normative work: The Third Global Consultation on the Health of Refugees and Migrants in June 2023, co-organized by WHO, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), UNHCR and the Kingdom of Morocco, led to the adoption of the Rabat Declaration by 49 member states and observers. This milestone is a global commitment to improving health for refugees, migrants and host communities. The results report provides actionable steps for governments, UN agencies and partners.
• translating research into practice: WHO published the first global research agenda to address evidence gaps, following a consultative research agenda-setting process to build consensus on global priorities with over 180 stakeholders. Five priority research themes were identified, requiring greater investment, accompanied by an Implementation Guide and Toolkit to foster stronger global research collaborations.
• health systems review: WHO conducts health system reviews worldwide to support the development of long-term, evidence-informed health system interventions that build on existing capacities and assess gaps and opportunities. Reviews in Jordan, Bulgaria, Thailand, the Czech Republic, Uganda and Estonia, in collaboration with the relevant Ministries of Health, have resulted in follow-up actions demonstrating policy changes and better informed health planning. In particular, these reviews have facilitated the integration of the health needs of refugees and migrants into national strategies.
• training of health workers: WHO developed Refugee and Migrant Health: Global Competency Standards for Health Workers (Competency Standards) to increase the capacity of health workers to provide culturally sensitive services to refugees and migrants. Successful training initiatives in Nigeria are being expanded to Senegal, Mali and Niger. In parallel, WHO is creating a relevant e-learning course and preparing for the first global course to be held in Rome in collaboration with the Italian National Institute for Health, Migration and Poverty – WHO Collaborating Centre.
• celebrating the power of storytelling: The WHO Health for All Film Festival awarded the Special Award for Migrant and Refugee Health to Dalal’s Story, directed by Alexandra Cordukes of Laundry Lane Productions (Australia). The film champions inclusive healthcare access and portrays how it fosters positive health outcomes during Dalal’s journey as a Yazidi woman seeking asylum in Australia. In addition, the festival presented “Health Emergencies – Grand Prix” for “Journey Beyond the Ruins”, directed by Mumen Sayed Issa and Atheer Salem Bahr (Turkiye). This film highlights the courage of healthcare professionals in response to the 2023 earthquake, telling the recovery story of Wala, a Syrian refugee in Turkey and earthquake survivor.
• exchange of knowledge and use of experiences: The Fifth Global School on Refugee and Migrant Health will be held December 2-6, 2024, in Bogota, Colombia, and will be broadcast live globally. It will bring together diverse actors facilitating robust knowledge sharing and collective learning, to explore innovative strategies, share best practices and foster partnerships to address the health challenges of people on the move and promote their well-being.