What does International Migrants Day have to do with health? A lot.
Internally-displaced people in Indonesia. Credit: Wikipedia Commons
As today marks International Migrants Day, first-year PhD student Tammy MacLean, tells us of the health risks undergone by people searching for a better life in new places.
At the start of the 21st Century, one in every 35 people was an international migrant
In 2000, the United Nations (UN) proclaimed December 18th as International Migrants Day. The date was selected to commemorate the fateful day in 1990 when the UN General Assembly adopted the International Convention on the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families. The 2000 proclamation was an invitation to the international community to disseminate information on the rights and freedoms of migrants and to undertake action to ensure their protection. Such rights and freedoms are at the heart of migrants’ health, and are therefore an important part in ensuring their positive contribution to their new countries and communities.
Over the past 15 years, the number of people crossing borders in search of a better life has been rising steadily. At the start of the 21st century, one in every 35 people was an international migrant (1). Migration comprises population movements both across international borders and within states (2). As such, migrants can fall into several categories, depending on their reason for migrating: economic, internally displaced people, refugees, asylum seekers (or those seeking refugee status), undocumented, and victims of human trafficking. Whether their movements have been voluntary or forced, migrants touch almost every country of the world, either as places of origin or destination, or through transit.
The convention on migrant workers was founded upon a number of pre-existing UN human rights treaties. It outlines that migrants and their families should enjoy the same working conditions as nationals, including the provision of health and safety regulations. Furthermore, these individuals should also have the same access to emergency medical care as nationals. There are also a host of other privileges that the Convention specifies, including freedom of movement, the right to religious practices, and the right to form associations for the promotion of economic, social, cultural, and other interests – all of which are essential components for psychosocial well-being.
Despite these established rights and freedoms, migrants face numerous health risks. Such risks vary throughout the process of migration, including pre-departure, transit and settlement. Pre-departure health risks, for example, can arise when countries of origin have a high prevalence of infectious diseases and poor access to health services. This is particularly problematic for refugees and asylum seekers who flee situations of violent insecurity or persecution. In 2006, a report conducted by the United Kingdom’s Public Health Agency indicated that migrant populations in England, Wales and Northern Ireland carried a significant burden of infectious diseases, accounting for over 70% of tuberculosis, HIV and malaria cases (3).
While in transit from originating to host country, migrants may be exposed to a host of different health challenges. A multi-country study recently published by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine on trafficked women to the European Union (EU) highlighted some of these risks. According to the study, women who were trafficked to the EU risked illness, injury and death from unsafe modes of transport, dangerous border crossings, and physical violence (4).
Even if migrants are successful in reaching their country of destination, additional health risks can arise during settlement. A study carried out by Health Canada shows that migrants’ access to and use of health services is significantly lower than host populations. The study outlined that migrants’ lack of awareness and access to health programs resulted in the under-utilization of health services and deterioration of health status over time (5).
Given the international promise of human rights and freedoms, including the right to health, why are migrants not living up to their health potential? A recent statement by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon outlines part of the problem. Migrants commonly face discrimination, exploitation and abuse within their destination countries. Host communities often target migrants with hate speech, harassment and violence, or unfairly blame them for the crime and economic difficulties affecting their countries (6). Stemming from these problems is a host of barriers to fulfilling migrants’ rights, including access to health services.
In order to facilitate a positive experience for both migrants and their host communities, it is essential that States – whether it be that of the origin, transit or destination country – ensure the protection of migrants’ rights. While migrant health is increasingly receiving global attention, more work is needed. The health of migrants is complex and involves a large number of factors, and more research is needed to explore the impacts of these factors and to overcome the barriers to health and well-being. As global mobility continues to rise, it is vital to fully understand its impact on public health. It is up to every individual, society and country to ensure that the human rights of all migrants are known, recognized and protected, and to begin positive dialogue about the importance of migrants on the economic, social and cultural lives of their host countries.
References:
1. BBC (2007) Factfile: Global Migration. Retrieved online 17 December 2009 from: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/world/04/migration/html/migration_boom.stm
2. WHO (2007). Health of Migrants: Report by the Secretariat. 20 December 2007. EB122/11.
3. Health Protection Agency (2006). Migrant Health: Infectious diseases in non-UK born populations in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. A baseline report – 2006. London: Health Protection Agency Centre for Infections.
4. Zimmerman, C. et al. (2003). The Health Risks and Consequences of Trafficking in Women and Adolescents: Findings from a European Study. London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.
5. Health Canada (2001). Immigration and Health. Health Policy, Working Paper Series. September 2001
6. (2009) Statement by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on International Migrants Day. Retrieved online 18 December 2009.