Agreement between NIHMP and AICCRE

NIHMP-AICCRE

On 7th July 2009, in the Senate Conference Hall, NIHMP (National Institute for Health, Migration and Poverty) and AICCRE (Italian Association of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions) signed an agreement for the promotion of health assistance and social integration policies for migrants at the national and European levels.

Migration, which is part of human history since its dawning, is today a global, structural and extremely rapid phenomenon. In 2008, documented migrants in Italy were between 3.5 and 4 millions (without considering more than 800,000 undocumented migrants). They were about 500,000 more than 2007 (Istat -Italian National Institute of Statistics- and Caritas/Migrantes Report 2009) and their incidence on the total population (59,619,290) was 6.7% (slightly higher than EU average).

The above mentioned data are evidence of the complexity of managing health assistance for migrants. It must be supplied in full respect of the right to mental and physical health, as provided by international and European organizations.

In their past experience, NIHMP and AICCRE have implemented information activities and awareness campaigns addressed to public institutions on the themes of migration and health. It is therefore important for them to cooperate in order to promote a right approach to the phenomenon and benefit from the networks the two institutions developed. They are committed in promoting awareness and attention to the themes of migration and health care among national and European local governments in order to carry out effective assistance and social inclusion policies.

The following activities are scheduled:
- SUPPORT information and awareness campaigns addressed to regional, national and European institutions and to the public opinion on the characteristics and health needs of migrants and disadvantaged groups (victims of trafficking, unaccompanied minors, asylum seekers, refugees, ethnic minorities, etc,) aimed at stimulating intervention policies;
- STIMULATE the debate on “Migrants, health care and the role of local institutions” between organizations like UPI (Union of Italian Provinces), ANCI (National Association of Italian Municipalities), UNCEM (National Union of Mountain Municipalities, Communities and Organizations) and the representatives of the State-Regions Assembly;
- PROMOTE projects, research and interventions on the field of migration and health care;
- SUPPORT combined initiatives aimed at exchanging experiences and mapping the existing national and European activities addressed to disadvantaged migrants;
- OTHER INITIATIVES aimed at achieving the objectives of the agreement.