- Date: 19-20 October 2023
- Timezone: CEST
- Location: Online
- Target Group: PhD Students, Researchers, Post-Docs, Professors of the EUGLOH-RIA Alliance
- Host: Ludwig Maximilians Universität München
- Registration: by sending the registration form to migrant.health@ibe.med.uni-muenchen.de (deadline October 8th, 2023)
About
The Chair of Public Health and Health Services Research, Institute of Medical Information Processing, Biometry and Epidemiology (IBE) at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, in collaboration with Lund University and the University of Porto and funded by EUGLOHRIA, organized the Virtual Conference on Migrant Health: Risk Communication and Protection from Discrimination in Health Crises. The organization committee's international and trans-disciplinary structure provided a holistic approach, such as linking migrant health with the health of other discriminated people and focusing on the intersectionality of various vulnerability mechanisms.
The conference aimed to foster a mutual exchange of scientific knowledge and practical experiences by bringing together people conducting migrant health research and people involved in professional or volunteer migrant-rights activities. Another aim was to promote interest in research on the health of migrants and other marginalized groups, as well as to encourage young researchers to work for health equity. Our intention was to create a collaborative learning environment based on the principles of equality, involvement, and continuous improvement. The fact that 135 people registered for the conference from 32 countries and four continents demonstrates the importance of addressing migrant health globally, as well as the need for scientific environments that everyone can easily access. In addition, a team of young researchers played important roles in the conference's planning and execution.
The conference began with a discussion of vulnerability as a concept. Following that, a panel focused on the extent to which healthcare systems recognized migrants' and refugees' health rights during the COVID-19 pandemic. The second panel, on pandemic discrimination, included cases from various countries and marginalized groups. The second day began with two keynote addresses on migrant health research and infodemic management. The following round table discussed the preliminary findings of the EUGLOHRIA project, which was carried out in Malmö, Munich, Porto, and Lisbon, on risk communication during the COVID-19 pandemic. Finally, workshop participants were shown an example of developing risk communication materials. There were 23 oral presentations in addition to the above-mentioned presentations and the workshop. Following the presentations, participants' and the young researchers' team's questions facilitated an in-depth discussion. At the end of the conference, it was decided to establish a network that brings together groups working in various fields for the health equality of immigrants and other marginalized groups, while also ensuring solidarity and continuity.