REFUGEES RIGHT(S) TO HEALTH & EDUCATION

12th World CongressApril 27 – May 1, 2009

Veronica P. Fynn

BSc (Hons), BA, MPH, LLM (Candidate)

Veronica P. Fynn

BSc (Hons), BA, MPH, LLM (Candidate)

Source: http://ashleycecil.com/paintings/Refugee%20Day%202007.jpg

According to the 1951 Refugee Convention, a refugee is a person who is outside his /her country of nationality or habitual residence ; has a well-founded fear of persecution because of his/her nationality, religion membership of a particular social group or political opinion; and is unable or unwilling to avail herself/himself of the protection of that country or to return there, for fear of persecution. (UNHCR, 1951 Refugee Convention)

Who is a refugee?

REFUGEES RIGHT(S) TO HEALTH & EDUCATION

Source: World Prout Assembly

Xenophobic attack on Mozambican refugees

REFUGEES RIGHT(S) TO HEALTH & EDUCATION

IANSA, OXFAM, and Safer-World, Africa's missing billions: International arms flow and cost of conflict, (IANSA: London, 2007) at 38.

Did you know…

REFUGEES RIGHT(S) TO HEALTH & EDUCATION

UNHCR, UNHCR Global Trend 2007 (United Nations High Commission for Refugees: Geneva, 2007)

The UNHCR estimates that 67 million people have been forcibly displaced by the end of 2007. But of these, only 13.7 million IDPs and 11.4 million refugees under UNHCR mandate havebeen assisted? WHY?

Source: Radio Netherlands Worldwide

Democratic Republic of Congo

Who suffer most doing war and conflicts?

REFUGEES RIGHT(S) TO HEALTH & EDUCATION

Did you know…

REFUGEES RIGHT(S) TO HEALTH & EDUCATION

MSF. Conflict in Eastern DRC. 2008 [cited 2009 January 14]; Available from: http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/news/allcontent.cfm?id=167&ref=tag-sidebar.

The war in DR Congo (Africa’s World War) has claimed over 5.4 million lives mainly fueled by blood diamonds and coltan (use in cell phones)? For example, in the province of North Kivu, sexual violence has become the weapon of war as hundreds of women and girls are sexually violated on a regular basis.

Source: Allison Kilkenny, Worldpress

Democratic Republic of Congo

REFUGEES RIGHT(S) TO HEALTH & EDUCATION

IS EDUCATION TRULY FOR ALL?

Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states: [e]veryone [including refugees] has the right to education. Education shall be free [even during violent conflict], at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory [for all refugee children].

Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states: [e]veryone [including refugees] has the right to education. Education shall be free [even during violent conflict], at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory [for all refugee children].

Source: UNESCO, Education for All

REFUGEES RIGHT(S) TO HEALTH & EDUCATION

Women Refugee Commission, Global survey on education in emergencies. (Women Refugee Commission : New York., 2004 at 156.

Global Survey on Education in Emergencies conducted on ten conflict areas showed that 27 million children and youth affected by armed conflicts were found not to have access to formal education. Only 6 per cent of all refugee students were enrolled in secondary education with even fewer opportunities available to internally displaced youth.Overall, adolescent females have the least access to formal education.

Source: The Guardian, UK

BUSH SCHOOL IN THE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

DOES HEALTH EXIST FOR ALL?

REFUGEES RIGHT(S) TO HEALTH & EDUCATION

Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that, “[e]veryone [including refugees] has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health andwell-being of himself and his family,… motherhood and childhood [of refugees] are entitled to special care and assistance.

Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that, “[e]veryone [including refugees] has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health andwell-being of himself and his family,… motherhood and childhood [of refugees] are entitled to special care and assistance.

Major health concerns of refugees

REFUGEES RIGHT(S) TO HEALTH & EDUCATION

•Disability due to intentional decapitation and landmines;•Unwanted pregnancies and complicated child birth;•High prevalence of preventable disease e.g., measles, malaria, cholera, and dysentery;•Mental illness and trauma resulting from rape and torture;•Incurable sexually transmitted diseases (STD) such as HIV/AIDS;•Socio-cultural problems e.g., forced marriages, prostitution, enslavement and trafficking.

Source: BBC, UK

Cholera outbreak hits Rwandan Refugees

Did you know…REFUGEES RIGHT(S) TO HEALTH & EDUCATION

Traditional humanitarian emergencies responses (food, shelter, physical health) usually lack strategic plans to provide long-term [mental] health and education for refugees.

Source: The Guardian, UK

Central African Republic children in bush school

“While every refugee's story is differentand their anguish personal, they all shareA common thread of uncommon courage –

the courage not only to survive, butTo persevere and rebuild their shatteredLives.” Antonio Guterres, UNHCR High Commissioner, World Refugee Day, 2005

REFUGEES RIGHT(S) TO HEALTH & EDUCATION

veronicafynn@osgoode.yorku.cawww.evresearch.ca

THANK YOUREFUGEES RIGHT(S) TO HEALTH & EDUCATION

Much gratitude to my supervisor, Professor Benjamin Richardson and Professor Susan McGrath, Director of the

Centre for Refugee Studies, York University.