1. No category

International Federation of Medical Students Associations
Pre European Regional Meeting 2015
Aalborg Denmark
Human Rights Violations
Content
Introduction
Goals and clear Objectives
Building knowledge on Human Rights Violation and Health
Reaffirm the continuous work of the DRM permanent small working group and the HCiD
project
Establish skills & knowledge on Health Care in Disasters
Expected number of participants
Methodology
Keynote lectures
Workshops
Case studies
Evening Program
Movie night
Proposed list of external partners
Expected outcomes
For the participants
For the federation
Follow up plan
Proposed agenda
Resources needed
Fundraising plans and budget
Coordinators’ contact details
Appendix
Abbreviations
Introduction
“While every refugee's story is different and their anguish personal, they all share a common thread of uncommon
courage – the courage not only to survive, but to persevere and rebuild their shattered lives.”
~ Antonio Guterres, U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, 2005
The Declaration of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law is set to protect the
inherent dignity and the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family. The
Right to Life and Health have a special chapter in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
and is closely connected to our mission as future doctors. There is also an inextricable link
between respecting, protecting and fulfilling the remaining Human Rights and promoting and
protecting health. Health policies can for example promote or violate Human Rights in their
design or implementation. Violations or lack of attention to Human Rights can also result in
serious health consequences. Thus, health care personnel are often in the first defense line
against Human Right violations.
The Human Rights and International Humanitarian Laws need to be given specific attention in
conflicts and other emergencies. In such times, the health of the people is at risk. This can be a
consequence of the conflict or emergency itself, but it can also be a result of diminished access
to health care. Attention needs to be given to these situations. In particular, the needs of
vulnerable groups such as displaced people and refugees needs to be taken into consideration.
Conflict and other emergencies are not static. In Ukraine, over 4000 people have been killed as
a consequence of the crisis during 2014. The United Nations have estimated the number of
internally displaced persons to be 455.829 in November 2014. In countries that are spared from
open conflict/combat, violence against health personnel is unfortunately not uncommon. An
example is taken from Sweden, where a political demonstration in August 2014 turned violent.
As a consequence, police men blocked the entrance to the ER at the local hospital, asking
people seeking care for identification.
As future doctors, medical students are often on the frontlines defending Human Rights. We
need to integrate human rights principles into our work, but lack the knowledge to do so. This
dilemma is especially obvious in conflicts and other emergencies. With this proposal, we aim to
build capacity within the future European medical personnel to act as defenders of Human
Rights and access to health care. We take standpoint from two IFMSA initiatives: Health Care in
Danger - Ethical Principles of Health Care in Conflicts and Other Emergencies, part of the
PSWG on DRM and the PSWG on Migrant Health.
Health Care in Danger
Violence against health care personnel is increasing in conflicts and other emergencies. In conflicts these
incidents are violations against International Humanitarian Law. As expressed in the IFMSA policy
paper, violence against health care workers cannot be accepted by the international community.
Therefore, IFMSA members worldwide raise their voices by implementation of the project Health Care in
Danger - Ethical Principles of Health Care in Conflicts and Other Emergencies (HCiD). The project takes
standpoint from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) project Health Care in Danger.
The important and unique role that health care services and personnel fill in society is under special
pressure in times of disasters. To increase the mandate of health care personnel to act as neutral parties
ensuring and advocating access to health care, we see the need to call upon the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights, International Humanitarian Law and the Declaration of Geneva. We need to raise
awareness on threats toward health care and access to health care in all settings among medical students,
medical professionals and society.
Refugee health
Conflicts and disasters, natural as well as man-made, force people to move in search of better
opportunities and a safe life where their rights are respected. According to UNHCR, the number of
forcibly displaced persons today is the highest since World War II. While most of these people remain in
their home country or neighboring countries, a few percent reach Europe.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights states the right to seek for asylum, yet there are many
barriers which stand in the way of a successful claim. Furthermore, in their destination country many are
treated unjustly, and social assistance enjoyed by other citizens are withheld from them. These problems
have a grave effect on the health of asylum seeking populations throughout Europe.
IFMSA has adopted a number of policy statements recognizing the problems that refugees, asylum
seekers and undocumented persons face, as well as the importance of addressing them. As tomorrow’s
doctors it will be our duty to provide the best possible healthcare to our patients, as well as society as a
whole. By valuing and holding these values, we will be able to treat each other equally, regardless of
immigration status. We will also be better equipped to act as advocates for vulnerable members of our
society.
Goals and Objectives
Building knowledge on Human Rights Violation and Health
●
●
●
●
●
●
Build knowledge on International Humanitarian Law and its violations that impact access to
health care within Europe;
Equip medical students with knowledge on human rights and ethical principles and their
connection to access to health care;
Inform medical students about our federation’s policy on inclusive, all-hazard approach and
IFMSA´s active contribution to enhancing Disaster Risk Reduction;
Deepen the understanding of the role of health care and access to it in emergencies and disasters
settings from a human rights based approach, including international laws and conducts set to
protect health care;
Equip medical students worldwide with knowledge required to advocate for access to health care
in emergencies and disaster settings;
Equip medical students worldwide with knowledge of importance of human rights and ethics in
disasters, conflicts and other emergencies in medical education;
●
●
●
Provide medical students with the opportunity to network with other students, professional
organisations and leaders in global health, while strengthening collaboration between IFMSA and
invited NGOs;
Reaffirm the continuous work of the DRM permanent small working group and the HCiD project;
Create an open space for consultations about humanitarian issues and health.
Refugee health and access to healthcare
●
●
●
●
●
●
To establish how refugees are perceived by the general population in countries across Europe;
Gather information on how these perceptions have changed over time;
Understand common external factors which have led to these perceptions changing;
Explain how the asylum system in the European Union impacts the health of refugees;
Learn, through patient narratives, of the barriers to healthcare faced by refugees, asylum seekers
and undocumented migrants;
Advertise opportunities currently within the IFMSA and externally for migrant health advocacy,
and share successes of other NMOs in this area. Provide fora to discuss how the European region
should collaborate to tackle barriers to healthcare experienced by asylum seeking populations.
Establish skills & knowledge on Health Care in Disasters
●
●
●
●
Introduce medical students to challenges that health care professionals face in emergencies and
disasters namely armed conflicts and internal disturbances;
Provide medical students with necessary knowledge and skills to actively take part in health
related actions of Disaster Risk Management and Disaster Risk Reduction;
Increase knowledge about health in emergencies and disaster settings, including violations of
access to health care in conflicts;
Increase knowledge of the challenges posed by violations of health ethics when medical
professionals are either threatened by or the victims of violence.
Expected number of participants
We aim to gather 25 - 30 participants.
The selection is based upon motivation, ethnicity, geographical representation and age, as well as plans
for further involvement beyond the training.
Methodology
Keynote lectures
Keynote lectures will be delivered by students and external speakers from a broad variety of institutions
worldwide. The lectures will ensure every participant has enough working knowledge to participate in the
training, and will also provide an opportunity for externals to relate exciting and new opportunities in the
field. The aims are to reduce the knowledge gaps between participants by fostering an interactive
discussion between the participants and the speaker. The talks may be carried out using computer-assisted
presentations or flipcharts, depending on the preferences of the speaker.
Workshops
Planned workshops will use a wide range of methods including interactive presentations with materials
for participants (printed charts, graphs and information), creative processes such as hands-on activity and
methods that enable participants to present their own knowledge in an assigned topic (all participants will
receive an information package via email prior to the event). Where appropriate, workshops will include
various kinds of audio-visual material: videos, audiotapes, overheads and projected computer-screen
images. Where possible, workshops will be conducted by external experts. After workshops, participants
will receive all materials used and presented during the day.
Case studies
Case studies will be used to delve in to deeper studies on specific situations. These situations will provide
insight to the workshop topics. As an example we are aiming to use a case study from the EU on Syrian
refugees in the EU, covering the European response to the increasing refugee influx and covering the
motivations of refugees to risk their lives crossing the Mediterranean. We will also address underage
asylum seekers and some cases from the past year that received international media attention will be
discussed. Finally, Health Care in Danger related case studies based upon on material from the ICRC will
be updated to fit a European setting.
Evening Program
Examples of evening program that will be developed further are a movie night, an open consultation for
the World Humanitarian Summit and a Humanitarian Café.
Proposed list of external partners
International Humanitarian Law:
Rights and Obligations of Health Care Personnel in Armed Conflicts:
Health Care in Danger:
Medical Ethics:
Health Systems Preparedness:
ICRC / IFRC
ICRC / IFRC
ICRC / IFRC /MSF
WMA
Danish DRR Focal Point
Expected outcomes
I.
For the participants
●
●
Medical students have a firm understanding of International Humanitarian Law and
Human Right to Health in emergencies and conflict settings;
Built common knowledge about the Human Rights Violations and access to healthcare in
emergencies and disasters including conflicts with focus on Europe;
●
●
●
●
●
●
II.
Understanding of refugees’ human rights protection in Europe and outside Europe as a
part of the outcome of the emergencies and conflicts;
Medical students have a firm understanding of the challenges health care professionals
face in disaster settings, especially during conflicts;
Medical students are fully equipped to actively take part in health aspects of Disaster
Risk Management and Disaster Risk Reduction, including a comprehensive approach of
information, education and assistance;
Elaborate the role of healthcare and access to it from a human rights approach, including
international laws and conducts set to protect health care;
Medical students have been given the opportunity to network with other students as well
as with professional organisations and leaders in global health;
Medical students have gained appreciation of the challenges posed by violations of health
ethics when medical professionals are either threatened by or the victims of violence.
For the federation
●
●
●
●
●
●
Medical students are informed about our federation’s policy on inclusive, all-hazard
approach and IFMSA´s active contribution of enhancing human rights approach in health,
protection of humanitarian laws and refugees;
Medical students are informed about our federation’s policy on inclusive, all-hazard
approach and IFMSA´s active contribution of enhancing Disaster Risk Reduction;
Awareness has been raised among students on the role of health care in emergency and
conflict settings including violations of access to health care;
Raised awareness among medical students about access to healthcare of refugees in
Europe and above;
The continuous work of the DRM small working group and the HCiD project has been
reaffirmed;
Medical students worldwide are equipped with knowledge required to advocate for
access to health care in all settings.
Follow up plan
●
●
●
●
●
●
Invite the participants to participate in the DRM movement of IFMSA including the
HCiD project;
Introduce participants to the online training material on HCiD produced by ICRC to
extend their knowledge and skill set;
Share the manuals created within the IFMSA Health Care in Danger project, aiming to
provide NMOs to recreate part of the training agenda;
Participants will have increased awareness of the need to advocate for access to health
care in all settings;
Support participants in building a network on local and national levels;
Evaluation of the preEuRegMe through an online survey.
Proposed agenda
Time
Day 1
Day 2
Human Right &
International
Humanitarian Law &
Medical ethics
Day 3
“Health Care in
Danger”
Day 4
“Borderless Healthcare Access to healthcare for
refugees in Europe”
09.00 10.30
ARRIVAL – DAY
Lecture and Workshop
Human Rights
IFMSA SCORP Director
Workshop
Homework: Students
taking action on Health
Care in Danger
Lecture and Workshop
The refugee experience in
Europe
Manon Pigeolet
Jamie Scuffell
Jessica Zhang
10.30 11.00
ARRIVAL – DAY
Break
Break
Break
11.00 12.30
ARRIVAL – DAY
Workshop Slot
International
Humanitarian Law
ICRC
Keynote Lecture
Experiences as a War
Surgeon
Åsa Molde,
ICRC
Lecture and Workshop
Barriers to healthcare for
refugees, asylum seekers
and undocumented
migrants in Europe
Workshop
Medical ethics
WMA National Association
12.30 13.15
ARRIVAL – DAY
Lunch
Lunch
Lunch
13.15 15.00
ARRIVAL – DAY
Presentation
Human Right Violations
OHCHR
Lecture
Medical Aid during
internal disturbances:
Ukraine and Turkey
MSF/ICRC
Ideas Café
Take Action!
IFMSA Voluntary
Commitment
Presentation & Workshop
Human Right in Medical
Education
IFMSA Member
15.00 15.30
ARRIVAL – DAY
Break
Break
Break
15.30 18.00
ARRIVAL – DAY
Training
Advocacy training
IFMSA LRP
Lecture and Workshop:
When states prepare for
the worst
Danish Contingencies
Agency/DEMA
IFMSA Member
Closing session
18.00 19.30
Dinner
Dinner
Dinner
Dinner
19.30 open
end
Welcoming Session
Voluntary session
Meet & Greet
of invited NGOs and already
engaged students
Voluntary session
Social Program
Voluntary session
Social Program
Introduction
Video and discussion:
Human Right & Health
Care in Danger &
Migrants Rights
Resources needed
1. Two rooms, with chairs and desks, big enough to host about 30 participants, 5 trainers
and the external speakers;
2. Two beamers for computer presentations and projections;
3. A whiteboard and/or a flip chart;
4. Flip chart paper, markers, post-its, paper, pencils, etcetera;
5. Water and snacks for the participants, trainers and speakers;
6. Full board accommodation for the participants, trainers and the attending external
speakers;
7. Internet connection;
8. Speakers and microphones for video-/audio-presentations may be advisable, if possible.
Fundraising plans and budget
We are aiming to reduce the costs for externals by many different means, especially by inviting experts
from the region. Moreover, all arriving experts will be kindly suggested to be funded by their local
institute. Especially, the possibility to have high-quality speakers from MSF on their own expenses is
currently discussed. However, financial support to fund externals´ travel expenses would be highly
appreciated by the coordinators.
Measures to reduce our ecological impact and to be cost-effective will be central in the consideration of
external speakers.
Coordinators’ contact details
Moa M Herrgård
Liaison Officer to Human Rights & Peace IFMSA
Global DRR Focal Point - UN Major Group for
Children & Youth
Deputy Chair - Youth Beyond Disasters
Mail:
[email protected]
Phone:
+46 (0)70 2825595
Anna-Theresia Ekman
Policy Advisor - Youth Beyond Disasters
Health Care in Danger Focal Point IFMSASweden
phone:
+46 73 707 25 68
mail:
[email protected]
Ljiljana Lukic
Projects Support Division Director - IFMSA
Advisory Council on Youth - Ministry of Youth
and Social Affairs, Croatia
Phone:
+385 91 504 30 05
Mail:
[email protected]
Fabian Falkenbach
Social Media Lead - Youth Beyond Disaster
Task Force on Constitution and Bylaws
Improvement - IFMSA
phone
+49 2421 388 97 89
mail
[email protected]
Matthew Valentino
Director on Human Rights & Peace - IFMSA
Mail:
[email protected]
Phone:
+356 79 042792
Jessica Zhang
Vice National Officer on Global Health and
Human Rights - IFMSA-Sweden
Health Care in Danger - Swedish Red Cross
phone:
+46 73 957 10 06
mail:
[email protected]
Appendix
Abbreviations
DRR
ICRC
HCiD
MSF
Disaster Risk Reduction
International Committee of the Red Cross
Health Care in Danger
Medecins Sans Frontieres / Doctors without borders