Sanit 2009 - 6th International Forum for Health

Rome, Palazzo dei Congressi
23-26 June 2009

On the occasion of Sanit 2009 - VI International Forum for Health, NIHMP organized two meetings: “Tutela della salute e organizzazione sanitaria per le popolazioni migranti: la circoncisione maschile” (Health protection and health care organization for migrants: male circumcision) and “Il diritto alla salute dei detenuti e delle detenute e l’applicazione del D.LGS 230/99” (Right to health care for detainees and the application of decree 230/99) about health care in Italian jails.

Health protection and health care organization for migrants: male circumcision

Organized by:

National Institute for Health, Migration and Poverty (NIHMP)

Intellettuali Musulmani Italiani (Italian Muslim Intellectuals), in agreement with the Big Mosque of Rome

Associazione Medica Ebraica d’Italia –AME (Jewish Medical Association)

The event was aimed at providing information, updating and pointing out working proposals to guarantee (1) equal access to prevention, diagnosis and treatment services; (2) the acceptance of people from different cultures and the promotion of the values that should be shared and protected.
Ritual male circumcision, in particular for newborns, practised by some peoples and communities, deserves the recognition of its legitimacy and protection.
The event was an occasion to think and talk about the position of the National Committee for Bioethics (CNB); they consider it a medical practice that should be performed by a doctor in full respect of hygiene rules.
In case of ritual circumcision on newborns, some members of the CNB think it could be practised by specialized ministers. It is responsibility of the persons performing circumcision to personally guarantee the assistance continuity in case of necessity and to provide clear information.
It is necessary for different cultures to meet and find out common and concrete solutions. Many bioethical themes can no longer be discussed inside narrow spatial and temporal limits; they require a supranational debate since multiculturalism is nowadays a reality within the national borders.
The event also had the objectives to acquire and enhance communication and relation skills in accordance with the principle of equality and the right to cultural diversity.

Right to health care for detainees and the application of decree 230/99

The event was aimed at spreading information and updating on the situation of the groups of migrant population who have failed to integrate in the hosting society and found themselves in illegal situations.
Various research studies have individuated a “latency period” in which migrants try and use all their resources before getting involved in illegal activities.
The event is expected/ meant to be an opportunity to study in depth two of the principal problems arisen from the recent bibliography on this matter:
- Difficulties migrants face during the legal and juridical process, in particular the right of defence and the possibility to benefit from alternative measures;
- Social integration problems for migrants both in jail and after their release, in particular their difficulties in participating to social, working and training activities.
Data have been collected and processed on foreign detainees in the jails of Rome. For each jail, data about the rate of foreigners, their age, gender, nationality, juridical situation, drug addiction and HIV infections rate and the frequency of work and training activities have been analysed.
After the quantitative analysis phase a qualitative study has been carried out in order to:
- Individuate the priorities and prospective problems related to the presence of migrants in jail;
- To find out methodologies and strategies to facilitate migrants’ integration and guarantee equal rights.