Racism, discrimination, and health:
a human rights-based approach
6 November 2023
10:00 - 16:30 CET
UN House & Online
Blvd. du Régent 37-40, 1000 Brussels
Racism and discrimination have a profound impact on people’s health and access to healthcare services; they are fundamental determinants of health. Although the evidence for the issue is becoming increasingly available, and despite states’ obligations to implement the Right to Health and eliminate all grounds for discrimination, as well as to establish monitoring frameworks with a human rights lens across public policies, European and national-level health and anti-racism policies have made little impact on the implementation of the Right to Health of racialised and ethnic communities.
This event, co-organised by the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) aims to raise awareness on the impact of racism and discrimination on health outcomes. It brings together key stakeholders across sectors and policymakers across EU institutions to provide an overview of the concrete impacts of racism and discrimination on mental and physical health, citing the most recent research developments and the challenges faced at the national and European levels. What are concrete policy solutions to counteract these impacts? How can EU and national-level policymakers mainstream anti-racism in their work to encourage concrete actions against racism and discrimination in health? Join us for a conference to connect, learn, and collectively inspire meaningful change in health equity.
Your presence makes a difference!
Programme
Opening the dialogue: racism, discrimination and health equity
We welcome you to a promising day of discussions and meaningful contributions focused on the issues of racism, discrimination and their impacts on health. EPHA and OHCHR, the hosts of the event, open the dialogue, followed by a personal keynote address from MEP Samira Rafaela.
Tamsin Rose
Facilitator and storyteller for positive change
Elena Kountouri Tapiero
Acting Regional Representative for Europe, OHCHR
Milka Sokolović
Director General, EPHA
Samira Rafaela
MEP, Renew Europe (D66, the Netherlands)
Understanding racism, discrimination, and health: what does the science say?
The amount of evidence that establishes the link between racism, discrimination, and health is steadily increasing. Racism and discrimination are fundamental determinants of health, but what exactly does this concept mean? In this session, we explore the science and how these structural issues impact our health.
Luna Ali
Policy Trainee, EPHA
Abi Deivanayagam
Clinical Research Fellow, Institute for Global Health, UCL and Academic Clinical Fellow in Public Health, Lancaster University
From theory to practice: Exploring the local and national perspective
With a better understanding of the science behind racism, discrimination and health, we go from theory to practice. Racism and discrimination are deeply embedded in the structure of society, present at every level. In this session, we further our understanding by zooming in on the local and national levels in some EU Member States.
Emilie Bourgeat
Project Manager, Défenseur des Droits
Maricarmen Cortés
Fundación Secretariado Gitano
Hans Verrept
Head of the intercultural mediation and policy support unit, Belgian Federal Public Service Health, Food Chain Safety, Environment
Advancing health for all: European initiatives on racism, discrimination, and health
Addressing racism and discrimination at the national level is crucial, but a structural approach to tackling health inequities requires action at all levels. The EU has a variety of tools at its disposal to tackle racism and discrimination beyond the national level. In this session, we delve into such instruments, like the EU4Health programme and the EU Anti-racism action plan.
Stefan Schreck
Adviser for Stakeholder relations, DG SANTE
Michaela Moua
EU Anti-Racism Coordinator, DG JUST
Hands-on approach to racism and discrimination: implementing the right to health
During the first half of the day, we explored racism and discrimination as fundamental determinants of health on different levels. Equipped with a grasp of the concepts, we can now shift our attention to potential policy solutions. In this session, we explore guidelines and international treaties, and how they can be used to implement the right to health.
Mila Paspalanova
Anti-Racial Discrimination Advisor, OHCHR
Enabling the right to health: the role of civil society
Understanding the right to health is the first step to change, but we need to engage people to enable that change. With the DisQo stakeholder network, for the first time there is a dedicated civil society platform to raise the health voice in anti-racism and anti-discrimination. In this session, DisQo representatives help us deepen our understanding of the right to health.
Raymond Gemen
Head of Policy, EPHA
Denis Onyango
Director, Africa Advocacy Foundation
Fatima Awil
Advocacy and Policy Officer, Mental Health Europe
Jacqueline Bowman-Busato
Head of Policy, EASO
Implementation of the right to health: the WHO perspective
With different approaches to health across Europe, implementing the right to health can become quite complex. With different local and national contexts, a structural approach is the key to success. In this session, we learn from the WHO on the sensitivities of implementing the right to health in WHO member states.
Rachel Hammonds
Senior Human Rights Advisor, WHO
Engaging for change: dialogue on anti-racism/-discrimination in health policy
Tackling health inequities requires tailored solutions to specific contexts at the local, national, or European level. Building on the learnings, insights and perspectives of the day, we will conclude with an engaging and interactive dialogue. During this session, we will jointly discuss racism, discrimination and health with the participants to identify structural policy solutions to tackle racial health inequities.
Tamsin Rose
Facilitator and storyteller for positive change
Rachel Hammonds
Senior Human Rights Advisor, WHO
Mila Paspalanova
Anti-Racial Discrimination Advisor, OHCHR
Discussion & conclusion
- Mila Paspalanova, Anti-Racial Discrimination Advisor, OHCHR
- Raymond Gemen, Head of Policy, EPHA
- Tamsin Rose, Facilitator and Storyteller for Positive Change
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