Mr Pramutvinai, Minister of Foreign Affairs for Thailand, Mr Silva, Minister of Foreign Affairs for Portugal and Mr Jacome, Vice Minister of Human Mobility for Ecuador, Ambassador Swing, Mr Sy, friends and colleagues ladies and gentlemen –
We all know that migration can be a key driver of economic and social prosperity, bringing new ideas and an energetic and highly motivated workforce.
But it also poses unique challenges.
The world is experiencing the largest population displacements seen since the end of the Second World War. What we are seeing today is forced migration, caused by poverty, climate change, disaster, armed conflict and violent extremism.
Most people agree that the international community should do much more to address the root causes of forced displacement and migration.
It is clear that health policies and strategies for managing migrant health are not keeping pace with the challenges.
These challenges have become a crisis, with political, financial, security, and health implications.
The scale of anti-migrant sentiment is equally unprecedented. The positive contribution of migrants has largely been forgotten.
Many migrants remain on the fringes of society. There are ratified international conventions and frameworks to protect migrant rights, but too often migrants still miss out on essential services, including health, due largely to their legal status.
They face discrimination, social exclusion and lack of access to health services, and continuity of care. Often they live and work in substandard conditions.
This exclusion imposes a cost on their adopted communities: lack of integration can fan the flames of inequality and undermine economic and social development.
The Sustainable Development Goals recognize migrants, refugees, and displaced persons as vulnerable groups, and call for full respect for their human rights.
As you know, I have made universal health coverage -- health for all -- my top priority as Director-General of WHO. And when we say health for all, we mean all, including migrants, regardless of their status.
Some changes will take a long time to bear fruit. But given the unprecedented nature of recent events, we need immediate action.
Let me outline four urgent needs.
First, we need better policies that promote migrants’ right to health, address their health needs and integrate them into their host societies.
Second, health systems must be sensitive to the needs of migrants. This means services that are in the right language, and that pay attention to unique health problems, including reproductive and child health, mental illness and trauma from injuries or torture.
Third, we need good health monitoring and data on health needs so we can set realistic priorities.
Finally, collaboration between countries and sectors is essential to manage the health needs of refugees and migrants of this magnitude.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants, and the upcoming global compacts on refugees and safe, orderly and regular migration, give us a unique opportunity to address refugee and migrant health.
That’s why it’s so important to include a strong health component in both of the new global compacts.
Let me remind you that as Member States of WHO, you asked us to develop a framework of priorities and guiding principles on promoting the health of refugees and migrants, and endorsed a new resolution at this year’s World Health Assembly. You also asked us to conduct a situation analysis, identify best practices and develop a global action plan.
If we are to remain true to the principles of the Sustainable Development Goals, and leave no one behind – we must do a better job of getting health services to refugees and migrants.
Health for all means health for all.
I thank you.