Stream 5
Marginalised Populations: migration, assimilation and Human Rights…
“They have a right under international law to claim asylum from persecution. That is what they are doing. They have committed no crime - they are innocent. Yet they are locked up indefinitely. People are at breaking point because they feel the hopelessness of it all."
- Julian Burnside QC
Delegates undertaking this stream will have the opportunity to attend four lectures focusing on marginalised populations and the implications this has on the health of individuals, families and communities at large. Populations considered will include refugees, asylum seekers, internally-displaced people, women, children, orphans, people with disabilities and minority ethnic groups. The barriers to equitable health will be examined, including the stigmatization encountered by these groups, as well as legal barriers, lack of education and empowerment, and specific health problems of each group.
The role of the doctor must also be considered with regard to counteracting stigmatisation and appreciating the problems specific to each group. The ethics of "duty to treat" vs. the legal system must also be contemplated.
One of the workshops will examine the entire refugee story - e.g. the displacement, migration, life in a refugee camp, internal displacement, integration into foreign society, and the social, cultural & psychological effects this can have. The access to healthcare by refugees and asylum seekers varies worldwide, and scrutinisation of policies by different countries will be undertaken.
The second workshop, running simultaneously, will focus on issues affecting the health and wellbeing of women and children in developing communities and the barriers to this fundamental right. Gender inequality and discrepancies in education, employment, Human Rights and economic policy will be introduced, with their ensuing implications on health and poverty for women and children. Armed conflict and domestic violence experienced by women, particularly those living under foreign occupation, will be touched on.
The stimulating and thought-provoking lectures and workshops will challenge students to consider the various approaches which can be taken by health professionals to address the inequities experienced by marginalized populations in order to create a peaceful and just world. One must recognize the vital importance of Human Rights and individual freedom based on a primary foundation of equality across all populations.
References:
Global Health Watch 2005-2006