WHO/Europe is hosting the second Knowledge Forum on Refugee and Migrant Health in Athens, Greece, from 30 September to 2 October 2025. This year’s Knowledge Forum is organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Migration and Asylum of the Hellenic Republic and is co-funded by the European Union.
The Knowledge Forum will bring together Member States and a wide range of key partners to:
- identify strategic partnerships and avenues for joint action to implement the Action plan for refugee and migrant health in the WHO European Region 2023–2030;
- strengthen the network created during the first Knowledge Forum among Member States and key partners for information and knowledge sharing and cross-country and interregional collaborations; and
- build capacity on practical and innovative good practice solutions to support the health of refugee and migrant populations.
Stakeholders from countries of origin and destination will participate in the Forum, facilitating collaboration and exchange across migration routes.
Supporting the implementation of the Action plan for better refugee and migrant health in the WHO European Region
This year’s Knowledge Forum will continue building on the Action plan for refugee and migrant health in the WHO European Region 2023–2030 and provide tools and resources for its implementation, supporting Member States to make their commitment to health for all, including refugees and migrants, a reality.
Member States adopted the Action plan in a milestone agreement at the 73rd session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe in Kazakhstan in 2023. Reaffirming their commitment to the right to health for all, Member States agreed on 5 strategic actions to improve the health of refugees and migrants in the Region through 2030:
- ensure refugees and migrants benefit from universal health coverage;
- implement inclusive emergency and disaster risk reduction policies and actions;
- develop inclusive environments that promote public health, social inclusion and well-being;
- strengthen migration-related health governance and evidence- and data-driven policy-making; and
- explore innovative ways of working and develop enabling partnerships.
Thematic days
The Forum will be divided into 3 thematic days covering a range of themes in refugee and migrant health.
Day 1. Building resilient health systems: mental health, trust and communicating with refugees and migrants
Session topics include:
- Intercountry health partnerships: challenges and opportunities;
- Building quality mental health services;
- “Mental health in action” through an interactive design sprint;
- Trust, culture and communication: making health information work with refugees and migrants; and
- Behavioural and cultural insights for health literacy (human-centred design lab).
Day 2. Effective noncommunicable disease (NCD) management and prevention for refugees and migrants
Session topics include:
- Preventing and managing NCDs across the life course in migrant and refugee communities; and
- Continuity of care across borders (scenario simulation).
Day 3. From dialogue to action: strengthening people-centred health systems through human resources for health
Session topics include:
- Leveraging human resources for people-centred health
- Good practices from workforce in action
- Next steps and actions.
Participants
Participants will be able to join by invitation. Invitations will be shared with:
- the 53 Member States of the WHO European Region
- United Nations agencies, the European Commission and relevant partners
- international experts in the field of public health and migration
- refugee and migrant representatives.
The Knowledge Forum on Refugee and Migrant Health is the flagship annual event of the WHO/Europe Health and Migration Programme, organized in collaboration with a different Member State each year.