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The global coronavirus pandemic has demonstrated the necessity of engineering approaches, from research and development to rapid prototyping and production, in saving lives all across the world [1]. From personal protective equipment design to vaccine production and distribution, engineering has been the bedrock of an effective global response. However, despite major gains made in the last several decades, there are still millions all across the world, including the vulnerable displaced, who rarely benefit from new developments at the interface of engineering, biology, and health. Copyright © 2010-2012 IEEE.
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This paper evaluates ways in which labour issues in global value chains for medical gloves have been affected by, and addressed through, the COVID-19 pandemic. It focuses on production in Malaysia and supply to the United Kingdom's National Health Service and draws on a large-scale survey with workers and interviews with UK government officials, suppliers and buyers. Adopting a Global Value Chain (GVC) framework, the paper shows how forced labour endemic in the sector was exacerbated during the pandemic in the context of increased demand for gloves. Attempts at remediation are shown to operate through both a reconfigured value chain in which power shifted dramatically to the manufacturers and a context where public procurement became higher in profile than ever before. It is argued that the purchasing power of governments must be leveraged in ways that more meaningfully address labour issues, and that this must be part of value chain resilience. © 2022 The Authors. Global Networks published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
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In a defiant celebration of their queer subculture at the end of the first act, the lead character exclaims: "the opposite of war isn't peace-it's creation!"1 This lyrical moment spotlights how peace cannot be a crucial determinant of health and well-being if underlying systems of power remain the same;when addressing forced displacement on a global scale, public health responses must instead prioritize dismantling binary social constructs and intentionally creating inclusive care systems. The global COVID-19 pandemic has intensified existing cycles of violence and displacement generated by structural inequality, poverty, the climate crisis, and political instability.2,3 These systems operate through divisive, binary social categories-rich and poor, woman and man, Black and White, perpetrator and victim, citizen and foreigner- making people at the intersection of marginalized identity dimensions increasingly vulnerable to violence and forced migration within and across societies.4 Binary frameworks also determine which displaced populations receive refugee designation and, thus, protection. A study of transgender asylum seekers in Mexico found that they experienced discrimination in education and employment based on their evolving gender identities, violence from both their families and state officials, and adverse mental health outcomes.6 In another study, LGBTQ+ refugees and asylees living in a range of contexts in the United States and Canada reported widespread experiences of violence and a lack of support resources and protection across institutional levels and locations.7 These studies highlight how refugees who transcend binary constructs face violence and displacement not just from their communities but also from a migrant protection apparatus designed for refugees whose identities are assumed to fit neatly into predetermined boxes. Kimberlé Crenshaw's original use of the framework explored how binary conceptions of gender and race in the US legal system produced differential access to systems of justice for women who had experienced violence;the structural separation of racial discrimination and gender discrimination privileged White women's and Black men's experiences and obscured the cross-cutting effects of gender and race for Black women.8 In seeking to address forced displacement, I argue that we must incorporate an expanded version of intersectionality- what I call "creative intersectionality"- that explores how global systems of power relate to and shape one another, recognizes that identity dimensions are not dichotomous nor essential but are developed by translocational experiences and sociocultural contexts, and prioritizes critical action to deconstruct binaries in favor of new systems for collective well-being.9,10 For example, using creative intersectionality as a lens to understand and ultimately address forced displacement requires that we examine all forms of binary constructs, and not just those imposed on an individual's identity dimensions.
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The article discusses international migration trends and their impact on the formation of migration regulatory framework in the Russian Federation, as well as the analysis of factors influencing these trends worldwide. The authors point out to different aspects of the illegal migration phenomenon as the universal problem that has a marked tendency to increase including its impact on the national security of hosting states. The article examines problems of legal regulation of forced migration in contemporary situation of increasing political instability, as well as migration replacement as one of the ways to dealing with the demographic crisis observed in a number of developed countries. The globalization of the world migration flows are taken into consideration as a significant modern phenomenon, while special attention is drawn to the need for legal regulation of the integration of migrants into the hosting community. The article also explores into the changes in the structure of contemporary migration flows trends, examines their transformation in accordance with the socio-economic and political necessities of nations. The policy of attracting highly qualified specialists from abroad is replacing the guidelines for unskilled work force and the Russian Federation is actively engaged in the struggle for highly qualified personnel on the international labor market. The authors raise the acute problem of the increasing impact of migration processes on the sanitary and epidemiological situation in the world in the context of the COVID-19 spread. Hence, they emphasize the essential designing of a local model of the migration legal framework taking into account the protection of the national security of the Russian Federation from such threats. The authors consider the duality of the international migration policy, as well as the dual nature of the migration policy of the Russian Federation based on the principle of selective migration. In conclusion, the authors indicate the importance of studying the global benchmarks of migration processes for predicting the development of the migration situation in the Russian Federation and the passing of national migration legislation that adequately respond to the challenges and threats of the contemporary world.
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Background: The COVID-19 pandemic continues to worsen economic inequality, political unrest and violence resulting in unprecedented numbers of refugees and asylees globally. Various stressors related to forced displacement may impact cognitive function as refugees age in hosting countries. However, little is known about how forced displacement impacts perceptions and attitudes towards dementia and dementia risk reduction. Method(s): In-depth interviews with 61 older refugees aged 55-86 who were resettled in San Diego, California from Iraq and Syria, conducted between April-December of 2021. A phenomenological long-table approach was used to identify themes and categorize data on dementia knowledge, risk and attitudes. Result(s): The mean age of participants was 64.61 (SD: 7.19), 50.82% were female, 14.75% were employed, Median income was USD $15,001 - %25,000, median years since resettlement was 8 (SD7.06), 32.79% reported they could read and write English, 81.97% were Iraqis, 80.33% were married was. 16.39% have contracted COVID-19, and 85.25% reported being more forgetful since the pandemic started. Participants' responses about their attitudes about dementia were classified into three distinctive thematic domains: fear, acceptance, and practical challenges. Participants identified fear of developing dementia and the need to improve dementia knowledge as major motivators towards adopting healthier lifestyle and health behaviors. Acceptance emerged in relationship to the following areas: 1) religious;aging mentioned in the holy books as an experience associated with feelings of humiliation and helplessness, 2) cultural;dementia as an unavoidable part of normal aging, 3) experiential;displacement and war-related trauma increase risk of dementia. Practical challenges included the lack of age-friendly and trauma-informed care and services available for refugees which were identified as a major barrier for preventive, behavioral and lifestyle change. Conclusion(s): These findings can be used to develop effective and refugee-focused interventions that increase motivators and reduce barriers by tailoring interventions to refugees' dementia risk reduction literacy and motivations to change behaviors. Copyright © 2022 the Alzheimer's Association.
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Mental health issues impose an enormous disease burden on societies across the world. Despite its enormous social burden, mental disorders continue to be driven into the shadows by stigma, prejudice and fear. The issue is becoming ever more urgent in light of the forced migration and sustained conflict in many countries of the world. The status of mental health care varies widely from country to country. Many countries already have policies to deliver services for mental health conditions in primary care settings but require system strengthening to achieve integration. Many countries deliver care mainly in institutional settings and need dedicated advocacy and support in phasing out long-stay institutions and developing community-based alternatives. Some countries may require support for policy development or to implement mental health reform efforts. Concerns about potential increases in mental health conditions had already prompted 90% of countries surveyed to include mental health and psychosocial support in their COVID-19 response plans, but major gaps and concerns remain.For much of the pandemic, services for mental, neurological and substance use conditions were the most disrupted among all essential health services reported by WHO Member States. Many countries also reported major disruptions in life-saving services for mental health, including for suicide prevention. Various legislative provisions and Policies have been formulated. Post pandemic, the government of India paid more attention to the concern of mental health and introduced initiatives hitting the target areas. World Health Organization’s most recent Mental Health Atlas showed that in 2020, governments worldwide spent on average just over 2% of their health budgets on mental health and many low-income countries reported having fewer than one mental health worker per 100000 people. The addition of National Tele Mental Health Programme will bridge the critical gap and make the whole digital health ecosystem holistic. Respecting the rights of persons with mental health problems will reduce stigmatizing and discriminatory behaviours.
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Background Forcibly displaced people represent a huge humanitarian problem globally. At the end of 2020, the total number was 82,4 million;from those, 34,4 million were refugees, asylum seekers, and Venezuelan displaced abroad. Forcibly displaced people were identified as priority populations during the pandemic due to their risk of being the last served populations with healthcare. This paper aimed to identify if this population was prioritized in the COVID-19 national response plans of a sample of 86 countries. Methods This study is part of a document analysis of 86 COVID-19 national response plans, assessing the degree of comply to quality parameters of effective priority setting. One of the parameters included was the degree to which vulnerable populations such as forcibly displaced people were explicitly prioritized for receiving COVID-19 related interventions or for continuity of non-COVID healthcare services. The analysis involved assessing whether and how forcibly displaced people were prioritized in the COVID-19 national response plans. This was compared with the displaced populations identified in the host countries' UNHCR Forced Displacement 2020 report. Results Only five countries among 86 analyzed prioritized forcibly displaced people in their COVID-19 national response plans. Among the top ten forcibly displaced people hosting countries, Uganda was the only one with an explicit prioritization of this vulnerable group. Although Turkey, Colombia, and Germany account for nearly one-fifth (6,6 million) of refugees, asylum seekers and Venezuelans displaced abroad, none of the COVID-19 response plans of these countries prioritized these populations. Discussion Few countries recognized forcibly displaced people as a vulnerable population in their COVID-19 response and preparedness plans. Governments may have incorporated actions and interventions for these vulnerable groups after publishing the COVID-19 response plans. It would be essential to evaluate the impact of this lack of prioritization on the health and wellbeing of these population groups.
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This piece makes a methodological contribution to refugee studies in the context of the "ethical turn" in the field by arguing for a spectre orientation to the student voice that resituates participant knowledge as diffused rather than explicit. This orientation, as a methodological stance, goes beyond reflexivity and practices a refusal to engage in damage-centred research. Drawing from a broad theoretical and conceptual literature within the contexts of forced migration, this short essay expands the current literature focusing on procedural ethics by offering a more humanizing methodology for conducting research with migrant and refugee youth during the COVID-19 pandemic.Alternate :Cet article apporte une contribution méthodologique aux études sur les réfugiés dans le contexte du «tournant éthique» dans le champ en plaidant en faveur d'une orientation spectrale envers la voix étudiante qui resitue les connaissances des participants comme diffuses plutôt qu'explicites. Cette orientation, comme posture méthodologique, va au-delà de la réflexivité et pratique un refus de s'engager dans une recherche centrée sur les dommages. S'appuyant sur une large littérature théorique et conceptuelle dans les contextes de migration forcée, ce court essai élargit la littérature actuelle axée sur l'éthique procédurale en proposant une méthodologie plus humanisante pour mener des recherches auprès des jeunes migrants et réfugiés pendant la pandémie de COVID-19.
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Statelessness not only triggers crises within the boundaries of a state, but these crises often spread along borders. The Rohingya refugee crisis, resulting from systematic state atrocities towards a stateless community, has resulted in a massive wave of forced migration to neighbouring Bangladesh. Subsequently, the large number of refugees is exerting enormous pressure on the economy of this developing nation. The crisis can be understood from the perspectives of both human concerns and Bangladesh's traditional security concerns. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic is bringing additional challenges. This study investigates and examines the nature of the dilemma faced by the Bangladesh government in its foreign policy strategy over the Rohingya refugee crisis. It is argued that Bangladesh is facing dual challenges from the national and human security perspectives, and that the regional interests of major players, such as India, China, Russia and Japan, are determining the country's policy stance. It is also argued that the plight of the Rohingya people through their statelessness has become less decisive in the major powers' diplomatic calculations. The findings suggest that Bangladesh should accentuate its efforts to internationalise the issue and engage in a vigilant balancing between the major players for the repatriation of refugees, while, at the same time, exerting bilateral pressure on Myanmar.
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BACKGROUND: Authorities in Somalia responded with drastic measures after the first confirmed COVID-19 case in mid-March 2020, closing borders, schools, limiting travel and prohibiting most group functions. However, the impact of the pandemic in Somalia thereafter remained unclear. This study employs a novel remote qualitative research method in a conflict-affected setting to look at how some of the most at-risk internally displaced and host populations were impacted by COVID-19, what determined their responses, and how this affected their health and socio-economic vulnerability. METHODS: We conducted a remote qualitative study, using Katikati, a 1-to-1 conversation management and analysis platform using short message service (SMS) developed by Lark Systems with Africa's Voices Foundation (AVF), for semi-structured interviews over three months with participants in Mogadishu and Baidoa. We recruited a gender balanced cohort across age groups, and used an analytical framework on the social determinants of health for a narrative analysis on major themes discussed, triangulating data with existing peer-reviewed and grey literature. RESULTS: The remote research approach demonstrated efficacy in sustaining trusted and meaningful conversations for gathering qualitative data from hard-to-reach conflict-affected communities. The major themes discussed by the 35 participants included health, livelihoods and education. Two participants contracted the disease, while others reported family or community members affected by COVID-19. Almost all participants faced a loss of income and/or education, primarily as a result of the strict public health measures. Some of those who were heavily affected economically but did not directly experienced disease, denied the pandemic. Religion played an important role in participants' beliefs in protection against and salvation from the disease. As lockdowns were lifted in August 2020, many believed the pandemic to be over. CONCLUSIONS: While the official COVID-19 burden has remained relatively low in Somalia, the impact to people's daily lives, income and livelihoods due to public health responses, has been significant. Participants describe those 'secondary' outcomes as the main impact of the pandemic, serving as a stark reminder of the need to broaden the public health response beyond disease prevention to include social and economic interventions to decrease people's vulnerability to future shocks.
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This research seeks to understand how COVID-19 has affected access to healthcare among migrants in Latin American cities. Using ethnographic research methods, we engaged with Venezuelans living in conditions of informality in four Colombian cities-Barranquilla, Cucuta, Riohacha, and Soacha-and three Peruvian cities-Lima, Trujillo, and Tumbes. We conducted 130 interviews of both Venezuelan migrants and state and non-governmental actors within the healthcare ecosystems of these cities. We found that forced migrants from Venezuela in both Colombia and Peru face common obstacles along their access trajectories to healthcare, which we summarize as legal, financial, and relating to discrimination and information asymmetry. By limiting effective access to care during the pandemic, these obstacles have also affected migrants' ability to cover the costs of basic needs, particularly food and housing. Our study also found a prevalent reliance on alternative forms of care, such as telemedicine, easy-to-access pharmacies, and extralegal care networks. We conclude that COVID-19 has exacerbated preexisting conditions of informality and health inequities affecting Venezuelan migrants in Colombia and Peru.