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]
• World Migration Report 2010 – The Future of Migration: Building Capacities for Change
  "Recognizing that migration is a constant but dynamic phenomenon, the World Migration Report 2010 argues that it is essential for States to be able to develop the comprehensive knowledge and efficient, flexible institutions that they will need to promote and implement humane and orderly policies for the movement of people, now and in the future. Part A of the World Migration Report 2010 focuses on identifying core capacities in key areas of migration management. The aim is not to prescribe 'one-size-fits-all' policies and practices, but to suggest objectives of migration management policies in each area, to stimulate thinking and provide examples of what States and other actors can do. Part B of the World Migration Report 2010 draws on the most up-to-date data to provide overviews of global and regional migration and remittances trends. In recognition of the importance of the largest global economic recession since the 1930s, this section has a particular focus on the effects of this crisis on migrants, migration and remittances." [International Organization for Migration - Geneva Switzerland, 2010]

Reports, guidelines and projects

• A Population-Based Assessment of Human Rights Abuses Committed against Ethnic Albanian Refugees from Kosovo
  Objectives: This study assessed patterns of displacement and human rights abuses among Kosovar refugees in Macedonia and Albania. Methods: Between April 19 and May 3, 1999, 1180 ethnic Albanian refugees living in 31 refugee camps and collective centers in Macedonia and Albania were interviewed. Results: The majority (68%) of participants reported that their families were directly expelled from their homes by Serb forces. Overall, 50% of participants saw Serb police or soldiers burning the houses of others, 16% saw Serb police or soldiers burn their own home, and 14% witnessed Serb police or soldiers killing someone. Large percentages of participants saw destroyed mosques, schools, or medical facilities. Thirty-one percent of respondents reported human rights abuses committed against their household members, including beatings, killings, torture, forced separation and disappearances, gunshot wounds, and sexual assault. Conclusions: The present findings confirm that Serb forces engaged in a systematic and brutal campaign to forcibly expel the ethnic Albanian population of Kosovo. In the course of these mass deportations, Serb forces committed widespread abuses of human rights against ethnic Albanians. [author abstract] [American Journal of Public Health, 2001; 91: 2013–2018]
• 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]
• Bosnian Refugees in San Francisco: A Community Assessment
  "For the first few months in San Francisco County, California, Bosnian refugees are assisted with many aspects of their resettlement by a variety of public and private agencies. These agencies work closely with newly arriving refugees, guiding them through the initial tasks of building a new life: finding housing, learning English, enrolling children in schools, looking for work, training for future jobs and accessing health care services and public benefits. After completing these short-term programs, most newcomers fall off the radar of these agencies who, due to funding limitations, typically do not, or are unable to, track their progress unless the refugees continue to receive public benefits or are still paying off their travel loans. They settle into their new lives in San Francisco or neighboring counties under a veil of anonymity. As one of the newest refugee groups in the San Francisco Bay Area, little has been documented on how Bosnian refugees are faring and how they have adjusted to their new country and its health care, education, and employment systems. This community assessment, undertaken by the Newcomers Health Program, a program of the San Francisco Department of Public Health in collaboration with the International Institute of San Francisco, attempts to present a baseline picture of the Bosnian refugee population in San Francisco County." [San Francisco Department of Public Health in collaboration with International Institute of San Francisco, March 2001]
• Bulgaria Country Report: EU partnerships to reduce HIV & public halth [sic] vulnerabilities associated with population mobility
  "The free movement of people, goods and services is perceived to be a pillar of the sustained development of the European Union. At the same time Europe is facing continuous ageing of the population, and increased immigration flows over the last decade, which have become driving forces for the demographic changes, especially in EU. Furthermore, population mobility naturally entails challenges from the common strategy and policy, legislation, human rights and public health. Migration increases vulnerability to infectious diseases, and in particular HIV and Tuberculosis. Therefore, HIV and migration should be brought to EU agendas as part of broader public health and social policies. Bulgaria, as a new member state and external EU border, also faces these challenges as it is expected that mobility will increase in two directions – internal (within the EU, mainly by young people emigrating from Bulgaria) and external (people from third countries immigrating to Bulgaria)." [International Organization for Migration, August 2007]
• 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)]
• Global Protection and the Health Impact of Migration Interception
  The volume of international travel and irregular migration places pressure on states to maintain orderly migration programs. Interception strategies are increasingly used by states to halt the movement of irregular migrants, including asylum seekers. Some strategies, such as immigration detention, pose a serious threat to health and mental health. Others, such as the use of visa restrictions or other pre-emptive interception measures, have a potentially large impact on migrants' health and welfare by forcing people to remain in settings where they face the chance of persecution. Interception can also promote humanitarian outcomes. Refugee camps, for example, address immediate protection, safety, and service needs of forcibly displaced persons, but they have limits as long-term solutions. Migration interception practices are a major global determinant of health and mental health. Health professionals must remain engaged in discussions about migration and humanitarian protection to ensure a broader consideration of the health impact of these practices. [publication summary points] [PLoS Med 8(6): e1001038. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1001038 - June 14, 2011]
• Gobernanza en Sistemas de Salud: conceptos, aportes y evidencias para el avance de estrategias de Protección Social en la Salud de los Migrantes
  "En el actual proceso de globalización y crisis económica, donde las fronteras geográficas parecen borrarse y las identidades se desdibujan, cuando se habla de la economía del mundo, del sistema económico global o de salud global, el fenómeno migratorio cobra nuevas dimensiones y significados entre las naciones. Porque no obstante este supuesto que funciona como sustento ideológico de la homogeneización del mundo y negación de la diversidad cultural e histórica de los pueblos, algunos países fortalecen sus fronteras geográficas y endurecen su política migratoria. La migración si bien es un problema social que siempre ha existido, se ha agudizado en las últimas décadas y plantea una multiplicidad de escenarios y problemas históricos que con el transcurrir del tiempo lejos de ofrecer soluciones se ha tornado cada vez más complejo y por lo tanto más difícil de explicar y abordar. Esto hace necesaria la convergencia de diferentes perspectivas analíticas y metodológicas que permitan un acercamiento más reflexivo que contribuya a la comprensión de todos los elementos y espacios de interacción que operan entre los diferentes actores. Desde lo local a lo global, de lo micro a lo macro donde el presente se muestra como parte de la historia pero también como posibilidad del futuro. Tal es el caso de la relación México-Estados Unidos caracterizada por la asimetría tanto en lo económico como en lo social. Dos naciones tan cercanas geográficamente pero tan lejanas en los otros ámbitos de la vida social como el económico, el social y el cultural. Tal disparidad se torna más complicada cuando se hace referencia a los principales protagonistas del flujo migratorio que se da entre ambos países, ya que hablar de migración internacional entre nuestro país y su vecino del norte, es hablar de los miembros de uno de los grupos sociales más desprotegidos y vulnerables de la sociedad mexicana: los trabajadores agrícolas migratorios. Aunque no son los únicos, si representan el mayor contingente que migra hacia ese país donde al igual que en su país de origen se encuentran al margen de cualquier forma de protección en salud y seguridad social. Es en este contexto que el tema de la desprotección en seguridad social y salud, cobra gran relevancia ya que más de la mitad de los migrantes mexicanos de 18 a 64 años carecen de todo derecho y seguridad social incluyendo el derecho universal a la salud tanto en México como en Estados Unidos." [Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Mexico, 2010]
• 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]
• Implementing Freirean Perspectives in HIV-AIDS Education among Preliterate Guatemalan Maya Immigrants
  "The focus of this study was on a HIV-AIDS education project undertaken as a facet of a broader Family Literacy Program (FLP), implemented within a Guatemalan Maya immigrant community in south Florida. Project participants had typically experienced between 0-3 years of formal education in their home countries, had limited reading and writing skills in any language, and lived in an area designated by Public Health Agencies as an HIV-AIDS 'hot zone' where the spread of the disease was unusually high. The Maya were typically not included in County Public Health statistics, which were limited to the categories of White, Black, and Latino, thereby making the Maya publicly invisible in this crisis, even though they were, perhaps, the most vulnerable population. This article is based on two years of action research conducted in the context of the HIV-AIDS education project… The project, still in operation, consists of a series of instructional sessions developed from American Red Cross materials but adapted, through extensive research, to address the cultural backgrounds of the diverse audiences which, in the first two years, totaled 1,424 participants. This is the first of multiple studies surrounding this program. As such, it was guided by the following questions that were intentionally broad-based, exploratory and descriptive in nature. (1) What were the unique challenges of implementing an HIVAIDS education project within this community? (2) How were those challenges addressed? (3) To what extent did a Freirean perspective on education contribute to the project’s effectiveness?" [Journal of Thought, Spring-Summer 2008, pp.41-54]
• Inter-agency field manual on reproductive health in humanitarian settings
  This inter-agency field manual is the result of a collaborative effort of many UN agencies, governmental and non-governmental organisations and refugees themselves. Information in this Manual is based on the normative, technical guidance of the World Health Organization. This publication updates the 1999 field manual. The objectives of the manual are to: outline minimum reproductive health interventions to be put in place as a priority; serve as a tool to facilitate discussion and decision-making; guide programme managers and service providers in introducing and/or strengthening evidence-based interventions based on the affected population’s demands/ needs, with full respect for their beliefs and values; and advocate for a multisectoral approach to meeting the reproductive health needs of affected populations and to foster coordination among all partners. Also available in French and Spanish. [WHO, 2010]
• 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]
• Migrant Health Guide
  The Migrant Health Guide is intended to be a "one stop shop" for information to support GPs and nurses in assessing and treating migrant patients, in recognition of the fact that these patients sometimes have health needs which are more complex than those of UK born patients. It will provide health professionals with the information they require quickly and easily and it is hoped that this will, in turn, improve patient care and quality of life. The guide covers a wide variety of health issues that may affect migrant patients including infectious diseases. Although most migrants to the UK are healthy, infections such as TB and HIV are more common elsewhere in the world than they are in the UK. The new resource will support health care practitioners in diagnosing and managing a range of infectious and other conditions that may be relevant to migrants from different countries. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment is important for the health of the individual patient and also to reduce the risk of onward transmission of some infections. [publisher overview] [Health Protection Agency (HPA), UK, 2010]
• 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]
• Migrants in an irregular situation: access to healthcare in 10 European Union member states “This report looks at the law and practice concerning access to healthcare for migrants in an irregular situation in 10 EU Member States, namely Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Spain and Sweden. European healthcare systems are struggling to balance considerations relating to costs and public health in a manner which adequately implements existing human rights standards. While all those residing in a country should have access to certain basic forms of healthcare – such as emergency healthcare and the possibility to see a doctor in case of serious illness or a gynaecologist in case of pregnancy – in practice such access is not always guaranteed… The report also looks at four specific issues — namely maternal healthcare, child healthcare, in particular immunisations, mental healthcare and care for chronic diseases — providing an overview for the 10 EU Member States covered. The situation is diverse with, at times, obstacles in accessing the most basic services, such as immunisation for children or antenatal care for pregnant women. Access to mental healthcare is limited for migrants in an irregular situation.” [European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) - 11 October, 2011]
• Migration and health: a dynamic challenge for Europe
  "Patterns of migration in Europe are evolving dynamically. This is not just as a result of the expansion of the EU and the growing phenomena of internal EU migration; it also has reflected the demand for both skilled and unskilled labour from outside the EU, economic migration and the arrival of displaced individuals from areas of conflict, persecution and/or natural disaster. Yet only a minority of countries in the EU provide the same access to health care services for all migrants as for the resident population. Regardless of their legal status, migrants can be at particular risk of poor physical and mental health; they may be isolated after arrival in their host country or be unaware of any entitlement to use publicly funded health care services. Even where available, services may not be suitable to the needs of many migrant groups. Most of the articles in this issue of Eurohealth are based on presentations given at the EU-level consultation on Migration Health – Better Health for All, which took place on 24–25th September 2009 in Lisbon, under the auspices of the Office of the Portuguese High Commissioner for Health and the Portuguese Ministry of Health and organized by the International Organization for Migration-managed project ‘Assisting Migrants and Communities (AMAC): Analysis of Social Determinants of Health and Health Inequalities’.” [EuroHealth, Vol. 16, No. 1, 2010]
• Migration and Health: A Framework for 21st Century Policy-Making
  Migration is a global phenomenon that influences the health of individuals and populations. Policy-making on migration and health is conducted within sector silos that frequently have different goals. Population mobility is wholly compatible with health-promoting strategies for migrants if decision-makers coordinate across borders and policy sectors. Policies to protect migrant and public health will be most effective if they address the multiple phases of the migratory process, including pre-departure, travel, destination, interception, and return. Health intervention opportunities exist at each stage. [publication summary points] [PLoS Med 8(5): e1001034. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1001034 – May 2011]
• 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 Health: Implications for Development – A Case Study of Mexican and Jamaican Migrants in Canada's Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program
  "This paper explores the nexus of health and migration for development, focusing on the ex­perience of Mexican and Jamaican migrant workers in Canada’s Seasonal Agricultural Work­ers Program (SAWP), a managed migration program that employs Mexican and Caribbean farm workers throughout Canada. It argues that the SAWP has mixed health and development outcomes for migrants: while generating remittances, which help reduce poverty and address health concerns, the SAWP does not do enough to protect and ensure the long-term health of migrants who work in a precarious industry and live across national borders. The paper presents research-based data on health outcomes of SAWP participants in Canada, Mexico and Jamaica; highlights issues of workers’ healthcare access in the three countries; discusses implications for long-term health and development; assesses current health initiatives for migrants and makes policy suggestions to benefit stakeholders. Data is based on ethnographic research, including participant observation and qualitative interviews, conducted since 2005 with migrant work­ers, employers, government officials and health professionals in southwestern Ontario, Canada, central Mexico and southern Jamaica." [Canadian Foundation for the Americas Policy Paper, October 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]
• Migratory Routes from Haiti to the Dominican Republic: Implications for the Epidemic and the Human Rights of People Living with HIV/AIDS
  The presented study analyzes the possibility of a relationship between the migratory flow from Haiti toward the Dominican Republic and the spread of HIV/AIDS, as well as implications for the human rights of immigrants living with the infection. Its purpose is to identify possible areas of intervention and research in order to increase the participation of this population and its organizations in HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention efforts. The current study was carried out in three main phases: 1) review of existing documentation on the relationship between Haitian immigration, HIV/AIDS, and the human rights of infected people; 2) semi-structured interviews with key informants, authorities, and experts in the areas of concern; and, 3) eight case studies of Haitian immigrants living with HIV/AIDS in agricultural bateyes in the Dominican Republic. Results evidence the stigmatizing scenarios that immigrants living with HIV/AIDS face. [publication abstract] [Revista Interamericana de Psicología/Interamerican Journal of Psychology - 2007, Vol. 41, Num. 1, pp. 7-16]
• 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 impact of migration on cardiovascular disease and its risk factors among people of Indian origin
  The overall burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) continues to grow in both developed and developing countries. The expected rate of increase in CVD in developing countries in the next two decades is likely to be almost twice that in the developed countries. Furthermore, Indians tend to have premature CVD, at least a decade or so earlier than their counterparts in the developed countries and also have higher case fatality rate. It is becoming increasingly apparent that rapid transition of lifestyle in the era of globalization can have a significant impact on health, in particular the incidence of CVD risk factors and related events. Studying the impact of migration on CVD and its risk factors is helpful in understanding the lifestyle induced or ethnic differences in the relative incidence of CVD in different populations. In this article we systematically review migration-related studies on the Indian population with respect to CVD and discuss the relative importance of these findings in the prevention of CVD in this population. The review summarizes that the different rates of CVD in various ethnic groups represent a complex interaction of classical and novel cardiovascular risk factors in varying environments. However, a significant proportion of the excess risk of CVD in Indians of South Asian origin is explained by environmental, nutritional and lifestyle factors. It is important to validate the threshold levels for all conventional risk factors in this population and future work is necessary to understand the precise environmental mechanisms and possible genetic interactions underlying the increased CVD risk among South Asians. [author abstract] [Current Science, vol. 97, no. 3, 10 August 2009, pp.378-384]
• 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.
• Refworld
  UNHCR's "Refworld is the leading source of information necessary for taking quality decisions on refugee status. Refworld contains a vast collection of reports relating to situations in countries of origin, policy documents and positions, and documents relating to international and national legal frameworks. The information has been carefully selected and compiled from UNHCR's global network of field offices, Governments, international, regional and non-governmental organizations, academic institutions and judicial bodies."

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