Selected Topics - Migration

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Events Global policies and related documents Reports, guidelines and projects Educational resources Organisations and Networks UN and multinational Government Non Government	Academic Institutions with particular focus in this area Key Conferences, conference and workshop reports Conference reports Journals, Newsletters, Forums Bibliographies, Libraries Public Health bookshop

Events

• School of Public Health and Community Medicine, UNSW - Upcoming Events

Global policies and related documents

• UNHCR Global Annual Public Health Report 2007
  "The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees’ (UNHCR) public health programmes endeavour to reduce morbidity and mortality among refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), asylum seekers, stateless and other persons of concern. Malaria, malnutrition, measles, diarrhoea and respiratory tract infections continue to be the main causes of illness and death in most settings, especially among children. UNHCR’s public health programmes, which include health, nutrition, food security, HIV and AIDS as well as water and sanitation, provide preventative and curative services that aim to reduce the burden of disease and suffering. However, the programmes strive to deliver durable solutions by addressing root-causes of public health concern. Public health programmes are implemented with an emphasis on prevention, community development and capacity building. " [published 1 October 2008]

Reports, guidelines and projects

• Australian health policy on access to medical care for refugees and asylum seekers
  "Since the tightening of Australian policy for protection visa applicants began in the 1990s, access to health care has been increasingly restricted to asylum seekers on a range of different visa types. This paper summarises those legislative changes and discusses their implications for health policy relating to refugees and asylum seekers in Australia. Of particular concern are asylum seekers on Bridging Visas with no work rights and no access to Medicare. The paper examines several key questions: What is the current state of play, in terms of health screening and medical care policies, for asylum seekers and refugees? Relatedly, how has current policy changed from that of the past? How does Australia compare with other countries in relation to health policy for asylum seekers and refugees? These questions are addressed with the aim of providing a clear description of the current situation concerning Australian health policy on access to medical care for asylum seekers and refugees. Issues concerning lack of access to appropriate health care and related services are raised, ethical and practical issues are explored, and current policy gaps are investigated." [author abstract]
• Examining asylum seekers: a health professional's guide to medical and psychological evaluations of torture
  As the introduction to this 2001 Physicians for Human Rights manual notes, this guide is designed to help "physicians and mental health professionals seeking to develop the knowledge and skills needed to conduct clinical evaluations of asylum seekers and assess physical and psychological evidence of torture and ill treatment." Chapters include: "US Asylum Law," "General Interview Considerations," "Physical Evidence of Torture," "Psychological Evidence of Torture," "Children and Torture," and "Written Reports and Oral Testimony." Three appendices cover diagnostic testing, anatomical drawings for documenting torture, and treatment centres in North America.
• Excreta Disposal in Emergencies: A Field Manual
  "This manual is designed for use by field-based technicians, engineers and non-technical staff responsible for sanitation planning, management and intervention in emergencies. The purpose of the manual is to provide practical guidance on how to select, design, construct and maintain appropriate excreta disposal systems to reduce faecal transmission risks and protect public health in emergency situations."
• Federal Strategy "Migration and Public Health 2008 – 2013" (Switzerland)
  "The aim of the national Migration and Health programme is to improve the health-related behaviour and the overall health of the migrant population in Switzerland. Measures taken in the area of public health must include migrants as part of their focus, otherwise they will fail to reach an important segment of their target public – with ensuing cost implications."
• Forced Migration and Public Health
  This 2004 FMO Research Guide by Bayard Roberts states, "Clinical medicine has long been involved with the effects of collective violence, from military surgery to the efforts of the International Committee of the Red Cross. The discipline of public health, though, began dealing with the phenomenon only in the 1970s, following the humanitarian crisis in Biafra, Nigeria. The lessons learnt there were the basis for what has become a growing body of knowledge and medical interventions in the field of preventive health care. Public health now plays a key role in the core humanitarian relief activities of health services, health surveillance, shelter, nutrition, water, and sanitation. This research guide provides a broad overview of some of the key themes, issues, and debates that encompass public health and forced migration, along with a number of references and Web links to sources for further study in this field."
• Global Migration and Quarantine
  "The Division of Global Migration and Quarantine is committed to reducing morbidity and mortality due to infectious diseases among immigrants, refugees, international travelers, and other mobile populations that cross international borders. In addition, the Division of Global Migration and Quarantine is committed to promoting border health and preventing the introduction of infectious agents into the United States." [(US) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)]
• Impact of Migration on Health
  Human Resources in Health is [sic] becoming important in these days. The Human Resources is an important area to be addressed for better healthcare delivery. Health is a sector which depends much on the human resources compared to other sectors. The human resources is [sic] the base for carrying out the services in health. The human resources in health includes [sic] professionals, technicians and auxiliaries. The workforce engaged in promotion and protection of health of members of the community. As per the available figures, in India 17.5 % Doctors posts were vacant in 2006. There are also shortfall in Nursing positions, and other health worker positions. About 50% of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (An institute of national importance in Medicine in India) students have migrated either to overseas or to private sectors. This is a problem faced by all developing countries. It is also important to note that all those who have migrated belong to the economically actuve [sic] age group. Majority of them are physicians, nurses, dentists and pharmacists. The present study is a meta analysis based on detailed review of different studies in the area of migration in health. The objective of the study is to find the impact of migration of health workers on health. [author abstract] [MPRA (Munich Personal RePEc Archive) Paper No. 13888, 2008]
• Iraq's Internally Displaced Persons: A Hidden Crisis
  "Internal displacement and refugee flight due to violence and instability have forced approximately 1 in 6 Iraqis from their homes.1 The plight of persons displaced within Iraq by pervasive violence has received less attention than has the flood of Iraqi refugees into neighboring countries. Internally displaced persons (IDPs) within Iraq now number 2.8 million2 and are far less accessible to aid organizations than Iraqi refugees.3 While the protection and care of refugees are covered in an international mandate, IDPs, fleeing for the same reasons as refugees, are covered by the weaker Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement.4 Political issues over sovereignty are at the root of this disparity." [JAMA, 2008; 300(6):727-729]
• Migrants: Developing proper policies in Europe for ensuring health
  "In recent decades, Europe has changed from a net provider of migrants to a net receiver. This has created an urgent need for national policies which ensure health care and promotion of both citizens and migrants. Countries have fully signed up to human rights legislation and have worked together with bodies such as the Council of Europe to be clear what should be provided in terms of health and access to health care. Yet most countries are struggling to develop clear and fair national policies which balance the needs of both citizens and immigrants. This presentation will outline the position as regards the UK and will mention also some of the approaches being used in other European countries. Information will also be provided about the funded projects under way, demonstrating a clear need for much more evidence on which to build policies. The talk will conclude with a plea for public health to be more aware of what is happening and more sensitive to the needs of the changing ethnic mix of their countries." Audio (MP3) and multimedia recordings can be downloaded from this website. ["Public Health Without Borders" – 136th Annual Meeting and Expo of the American Public Health Association, San Diego, California, USA, 25-29 October 2008]
• Migration and health: Challenges and trends
  "In the report, the [Norwegian] Directorate of Health focuses on the diversity of the Norwegian population today, and the nature of the health challenges faced by society. These challenges concern both the individual circumstances of the patient and health care provider, and the organisation of the health service." [Reference Number: IS-1663 E: Norwegian Directorate of Health, 2009]
• Migration and public health: From public health safety to health promotion
  "A highly mobile world has raised considerable anxiety concerning the risk of spread of communicable diseases. The re-emergence of TB and especially in its drug resistant forms, the pandemic of HIV/AIDS and public alarm from new threats such as SARS and influenza underline the vulnerability of countries faced with immigration pressures. This presentation will summarise what is known about the health status of migrants in Europe. It will indicate the steps recently taken by the EU and by public health associations: the improvement in ‘Eurosurveillance' by the establishment by the EU of its Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) in Stockholm and the launch at the end of 2007 of MEHO, a system for monitoring the health status of migrants and ethnic minorities within Europe. The latter was initiated by the European Association of Public Health. These developments will add to the knowledge gained by screening to allow Europe to plan better policies for migrant's health. Some countries are already moving from control-based approaches to one of more inclusion and of health promotion. The presentation will conclude by considering the role of public health in developing fairer health policies for migrants and ethnic minorities." Audio (MP3) and multimedia recordings can be downloaded from this website. ["Public Health Without Borders" – 136th Annual Meeting and Expo of the American Public Health Association, San Diego, California, USA, 25-29 October 2008]
• Migration, health and human rights: An overview
  "Migration has become one of the defining issues of the twenty-first century. Migration is not new, but what is new is the scale, the gender mix, the distances traveled; more people are now moving than ever before and they are moving faster and further. This presentation will look at some of the general issues related to migration and health and will give some global estimates of the numbers involved. Migrants will bring with them the health beliefs, traditions and cultural practices of their home country. To understand migration and health requires an understanding of the health determinants of both the countries of origin and the receiving countries. Past approaches based on protection now being replaced by policies of inclusion. The human rights position is clear, in that the right to health applies to all, and not just to nationals of a country. But even in the large number of countries fully signed up to human rights, health inequalities persist. The best approach must be coordinated action between both the sending and the receiving countries; in developing such an approach, a global public health without rigid borders would be of great value." Audio (MP3) and multimedia recordings can be downloaded from this website. ["Public Health Without Borders" – 136th Annual Meeting and Expo of the American Public Health Association, San Diego, California, USA, 25-29 October 2008]
• Migration, public health and compulsory screening for TB and HIV
  "'Migration, public health and compulsory screening for TB and HIV' by Richard Coker examines the medical, legal and ethical issues surrounding on-entry and pre-entry screening and concludes that screening is ineffective, costly and may have negative rather than positive impacts on public health. It suggests that the public are being misled about the benefits of introducing health screening for migrants and asylum seekers and recommends instead that the government introduces a 'welcome health check' to all migrants after entry to the UK. Additional resources should also be directed to providing better health care in countries of origin and to preventing the spread of TB and HIV globally." [Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) media release, November 2003]
• Our health and theirs: Forced migration, othering, and public health
  "This paper uses 'othering' theory to explore how forced migrants are received in developed countries and considers the implications of this for public health. It identifies a variety of mechanisms by which refugees, asylum seekers and irregular migrants are positioned as ‘the other’ and are defined and treated as separate, distant and disconnected from the host communities in receiving countries. The paper examines how this process has the potential to affect health outcomes both for individuals and communities and concludes that public health must engage with and challenge this othering discourse. It argues that public health practitioners have a critical role to play in reframing thinking about health services and health policies for forced migrants, by promoting inclusion and by helping shape a narrative which integrates and values the experiences of this population." [author abstract]
• Overcoming barriers: Human mobility and development
  "Migration, both within and beyond borders, has become an increasingly prominent theme in domestic and international debates, and is the topic of the 2009 Human Development Report (HDR09). The starting point is that the global distribution of capabilities is extraordinarily unequal, and that this is a major driver for movement of people. Migration can expand their choices — in terms of incomes, accessing services and participation, for example — but the opportunities open to people vary from those who are best endowed to those with limited skills and assets. These underlying inequalities, which can be compounded by policy distortions, is a theme of the report. The report investigates migration in the context of demographic changes and trends in both growth and inequality. It also presents more detailed and nuanced individual, family and village experiences, and explores less visible movements typically pursued by disadvantaged groups such as short term and seasonal migration." Available in English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Russian and Portuguese from this site. [Human Development Report 2009 (UNDP)]
• Palestinian Refugees in Lebanon
  "The Lebanese Government and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) estimate that there are around 415,000 Palestinian refugees in Lebanon… However, these numbers do not accurately represent the number of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, since many refugees registered with UNRWA [United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East] are currently residing in other countries. It is estimated, that the number of Palestinian refugees actually residing in Lebanon to be around 250,000… There are at present 12 official refugee camps in Lebanon, with 214,736 registered refugees living in these camps, making up 52.8% of the total number of registered refugees in Lebanon. There are also about 15 unregistered Palestinian informal gatherings or unofficial settlements, and which were established by refugees settling on plots of land, and are not managed by UNRWA. However, UNRWA does provide direct education, relief, health and social services to registered and non-registered refugees living in these settlements or 'gatherings'." [Forced Migration Online Research Guide, July 2007]
• Striving against adversity: The dynamics of migration, health and poverty in rural South Africa
  This doctoral thesis by Mark A. Collinson (Faculty of Medicine, Umeå University, Sweden, 2009) states, "The study is based in post-apartheid South Africa and looks at the health and well being of households in the rural northeast. Temporary migration remains important in South Africa because it functions as a mainstay for income and even survival of rural communities. The economic base of rural South Africans is surprisingly low because there is high inequity at a national level, within and between racial groups. There has now been a democratic system in place for 15 years and there is no longer restriction of mobility, but there remain high levels of poverty in rural areas and rising mortality rates. Migration patterns did not change after apartheid in the manner expected… Migration changes the risks and resources for health with positive and negative implications. Measures such as improved transportation and roads should be seen as a positive, not a negative intervention, even though it will create more migration. Health services need to adapt to a reality of high levels of circular migration ranging from budget allocation to referral systems."
• The Public Health Consequences of the Tsunami: Impact on Displaced People
  "The 9+ Richter-scale earthquake that occurred off the coast of Northern Sumatra on December 26, 2004 triggered one of the greatest human disasters and international relief efforts in recent history. As many as 180’000 people are estimated to have been killed and at least 1,633,000 people were displaced in the countries that were hit by the Tsunami. The humanitarian relief operation that followed brought over 660 countries, agencies and NGOs together in one of the largest humanitarian operations ever seen. Natural disasters affect people and communities in complex ways. In the case of the Tsunami disaster, the impact will be felt for years to come and the demographic and socioeconomic profile of the regions involved may never be the same again. How and to what extent the public health implications of the Tsunami will continue to affect the people of those regions is not clear, but unless the evolution of these public health aspects is understood in a timely fashion it will be difficult to prepare longer term strategies to assist people and prepare for any new disasters in the future." [International Centre for Migration and Health, April 2005]
• What about the health of migrant population groups?: The most important results of the "Monitoring on the migrant population's state of health in Switzerland"
  "This publication summarises in the first part findings generated by the study 'Monitoring on the migrant population's state of health in Switzerland (GMM)', which was carried out in 2004 on the basis of the Swiss health survey. The second part of the publication presents the main results deriving from a data analysis of the GMM data which seeks to identify the factors responsible for the migrants' frequently poorer health situation."

Educational resources

• Forced Migration Online
  "Forced Migration Online (FMO) provides instant access to a wide variety of online resources dealing with the situation of forced migrants worldwide. Designed for use by practitioners, policy makers, researchers, students or anyone interested in the field, FMO aims to give comprehensive information in an impartial environment and to promote increased awareness of human displacement issues to an international community of users."
• Migration and Health: Public Health Concerns
  This website of the International Organization for Migration looks at such issues as: Protection Against Communicable Diseases, Migration Health Assessment, Migration and Reproductive Health, The Health Status of Migrant Women and Children, and Migration and Mental Health.

Organisations and Networks

• Asia-Pacific Migration Research Network
  The organisational structure for a project adopted by UNESCO as one of its major regional activities under its Management of Social Transformation (MOST) program, located at the University of Wollongong (Australia)

UN and multinational

• International Organization for Migration (IOM)
  "Established in 1951, IOM is the leading inter-governmental organization in the field of migration and works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners. With 125 member states, a further 18 states holding observer status and offices in over 100 countries, IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It does so by providing services and advice to governments and migrants. IOM works to help ensure the orderly and humane management of migration, to promote international cooperation on migration issues, to assist in the search for practical solutions to migration problems and to provide humanitarian assistance to migrants in need, including refugees and internally displaced people. The IOM Constitution recognizes the link between migration and economic, social and cultural development, as well as to the right of freedom of movement. IOM works in the four broad areas of migration management: Migration and development; Facilitating migration; Regulating migration; and Forced migration. IOM activities that cut across these areas include the promotion of international migration law, policy debate and guidance, protection of migrants' rights, migration health and the gender dimension of migration.”“Established in 1951, IOM is the leading inter-governmental organization in the field of migration and works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners. With 125 member states, a further 18 states holding observer status and offices in over 100 countries, IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It does so by providing services and advice to governments and migrants. IOM works to help ensure the orderly and humane management of migration, to promote international cooperation on migration issues, to assist in the search for practical solutions to migration problems and to provide humanitarian assistance to migrants in need, including refugees and internally displaced people. The IOM Constitution recognizes the link between migration and economic, social and cultural development, as well as to the right of freedom of movement. IOM works in the four broad areas of migration management: Migration and development; Facilitating migration; Regulating migration; and Forced migration. IOM activities that cut across these areas include the promotion of international migration law, policy debate and guidance, protection of migrants' rights, migration health and the gender dimension of migration."
• United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
  "The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees was established on December 14, 1950 by the United Nations General Assembly. The agency is mandated to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. It strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State, with the option to return home voluntarily, integrate locally or to resettle in a third country. It also has a mandate to help stateless people. In more than five decades, the agency has helped people restart their lives. Today, a staff of some 6,600 people in more than 110 countries continues to help about 34 million persons."

Government

Non Government

• Center for Migration Studies of New York (CMS)
  "The Center for Migration Studies of New York (CMS) is a non-profit organization, founded in 1964. Its primary goal is to support and undertake research, and to provide a forum for debate on international migration. It publishes International Migration Review; a leading peer-reviewed scholarly journal specialized in the subject of international migration. CMS circulates books and monographs, and undertakes original research. It also organizes conferences and forums on international migration, including the National Legal Conference on Immigration and Refugee Policy."

Academic Institutions with particular focus in this area

• Irish Centre for Migration Studies
  "Promoting the study of historical and contemporary migration, to and from Ireland, within a comparative international framework, using new information and communication technologies"

Key Conferences, conference and workshop reports

Conference reports

Journals, Newsletters, Forums

Bibliographies, Libraries

Public health bookshops

• Public Health bookshop