Abstract

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Currently, forced migration (refugees, asylum seekers and people forced to flee inside their own countries) from the Middle East, Africa and Central Asia to Europe have reached a dimension never seen in the world until now. According to UNHCR, 355,361 people were forced to flee their countries in 2016 and get the European coasts, crossing the Mediterranean Sea. From January to April 2017, there were 32,750 arrivals via the Mediterranean Sea; 826 dead and missing (estimate). Most of these arrivals occurred on the Italian coast (24,000); 2293 of them were unaccompanied minors (+35% compared to 2016). In the same period, the arrivals in Greece were 4000 and 1500 in Spain. According to EUROSTAT in 2016, 1,204,300 first time asylum seekers applied for international protection in the Member States of the European Union (EU), a number slightly down compared with 2015 but almost double that of 2014. Syrians (334,800), Afghans (183,000) and Iraqis (127,000) remained the main citizenship of people seeking international protection in the EU Member States in 2016. With 722,300 first time applicants, Germany recorded 60% of all first time applicants in the EU Member States. It was followed by Italy (121,200), France (76,000), Greece (49,900), Austria (39,900) and the UK (38,300 or 3%). The large number of men, women, children and families who daily crossing the borders of European countries - above all through the Mediterranean route – compels EU to face a global challenge that involves all sectors of society and, of course, the health and welfare system, principles, norms and approaches. Among the many problems and needs that these people bring with them, the health status (physical, mental and psychological), disabilities, vulnerabilities are among the most important because of their countries of origin situation (war, conflicts, persecutions) and travel condition. Among the vulnerable migrants, children, young people and women are more vulnerable and at risk of violence, abuse, exploitation and related health consequences. So, what are the challenges that EU and the country members must face in terms of health policies and services; which measures are taking to ensure the right to health-care of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers; which organization the health-care services adopt to cope with the health problems of migrants? How the EU countries are thinking to manage the health-care system, basing on the principle and policy of solidarity in this constantly changing context?

According to these premises, scholars, researchers, PhD students are invited to propose theoretical and/or empirical contributions – comparative perspective is also recommended – dealing with the following topics (but not limited to):

• Physical, mental, psychological health of migrants and forced migrants to Europe;

• Care and care management of vulnerable migrants;

• Organisation of health-care services taking care of migrants and facing emergency situation;

• Human rights and health-care rights of migrant people, refugees, asylum seekers;

• Health policy between solidarity and market;

• Health policies and experienced governance model in emergency;

• EU policy and debate on migrants’ health-care;

• Care management, services, professionals to take care of migrants victims of violence, abuse, torture;

• Best practices and recommendations.

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Session organizer(s)

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Lia Lombardi (IT) – ISMU Foundation, Milan.

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