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THE WH

Journal of Humanitarian Medicine - Vol. XVI - N 1 - January-March 2016

AND

UN PAGES

The International Association for Humanitarian Medicine rmly believes in the mission
of the World Health Organization and the United Nations and strives to disseminate their
ideals. WHO and the UNregularly publish a wide array of valuable books, reports and
information on health, social and political matters, but it is believed that much of this
important material may remain conned to a specialized readership, probably not reaching
the wider circles that would equally benet from such valuable literature. For this reason,
this Journal carries news, views, book reviews and reports issued by the two Organizations
in its dedicated section The WHO and UNPages, which our readers have found of great
interest. It is a service we owe to WHO and to the UN.

WHO DIRECTOR-GENERAL BRIEFS


EXECUTIVE BOARD ON ZIKA SITUATION

Briefing on the Zika situation. I will give you a brief history of this disease and explain why WHO is so deeply concerned.
The Zika virus was first isolated in 1947 from a monkey
in the Zika forest of Uganda. Its historical home has been in a
narrow equatorial belt stretching across Africa and into equatorial Asia.
For decades, the disease, transmitted by the Aedes genus
of mosquito, slumbered, affecting mainly monkeys. In humans,
Zika occasionally caused a mild disease of low concern.
In 2007, Zika expanded its geographical range to cause the
first documented outbreak in the Pacific islands, in the Federated States of Micronesia. From 2013-2014, 4 additional Pacific island nations documented large Zika outbreaks.
In French Polynesia, the Zika outbreak was associated with
neurological complications at a time when the virus was cocirculating with dengue. That was a unique feature, but difficult
to interpret.
The situation today is dramatically different. Last year, the
virus was detected in the Americas, where it is now spreading
explosively. As of today, cases have been reported in 23 countries and territories in the region.
The level of alarm is extremely high.
Arrival of the virus in some places has been associated
with a steep increase in the birth of babies with abnormally
small heads and in cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome.
A causal relationship between Zika virus infection and
birth malformations and neurological syndromes has not yet
been established, but is strongly suspected.
The possible links, only recently suspected, have rapidly

changed the risk profile of Zika, from a mild threat to one of


alarming proportions. The increased incidence of microcephaly
is particularly alarming, as it places a heart-breaking burden
on families and communities.
WHO is deeply concerned about this rapidly evolving situation for 4 main reasons:
the possible association of infection with birth malformations and neurological syndromes
the potential for further international spread given the wide
geographical distribution of the mosquito vector
the lack of population immunity in newly affected areas
and the absence of vaccines, specific treatments, and rapid
diagnostic tests.
Moreover, conditions associated with this years El Nino
weather pattern are expected to increase mosquito populations
greatly in many areas.
The level of concern is high, as is the level of uncertainty.
Questions abound. We need to get some answers quickly.
For all these reasons, I have decided to convene an Emergency Committee under the International Health Regulations.
The Committee will meet in Geneva on Monday, 1 February.
I am asking the Committee for advice on the appropriate
level of international concern and for recommended measures
that should be undertaken in affected countries and elsewhere.
I will also ask the Committee to prioritize areas where research
is most urgently needed.
Decisions concerning the Committees advice to me will
be made public on our web site.
Thank you
WHO/28.1.16

Journal of Humanitarian Medicine - Vol. XVI - N 1 - January-March 2016

WHO - ZIKA STRATEGIC RESPONSE FRAMEWORK


AND JOINT OPERATIONS PLAN (JANUARY-JUNE 2016)

WHO has launched a global Strategic Response Framework and Joint Operations Plan to guide the international response to the spread of Zika virus infection an the neonatal
malformations and neurological conditions associated with it.
The strategy focuses on mobilizing and coordinating partners, experts and resources to help countries enhance surveillance of the Zika virus and disorders that could be linked to it,
improve vector control, effectively communicate risks, guidance and protection measures, provide medical care to those
affected and fast-track research and development of vaccines,
diagnostics and therapeutics
WHO says $56 million is required to implement the Strategic Response Framework and Joint Operations Plan, of which
$25 million would fund the WHO/AMRO/PAHO response and
$31 million would fund the work of key partners. In the interim,
WHO has tapped a recently established emergency contingency
fund to finance its initial operations. As part of WHOs new
emergency programme, the agencys headquarters activated an
Incident Management System to oversee the global response
and leverage expertise from across the organization to address
the crisis. WHO is tapping a recently established emergency
contingency fund to finance its initial operations.

WHOs Regional Office for the Americas (AMRO/PAHO)


has been working closely with affected countries since May
2015, when the first reports of Zika virus disease emerged from
northeastern Brazil. AMRO/PAHO and partner specialists were
deployed to help health ministries detect and track the virus,
contain its spread, advise on clinical management of Zika and
investigate the spikes in microcephaly and Guillain-Barr syndrome in areas where Zika outbreaks have occurred.
AMRO/PAHO will continue to work with partners to manage
the response in the Americas.
WHO is issuing regular information and guidance on the
congenital and neurological conditions associated with Zika
virus disease, as well as related health, safety and travel issues.
Working with partners, WHO is also mapping efforts to
develop vaccines, therapies, diagnostic tests and new vector
control tactics and putting in place mechanisms to expedite
data sharing, product development and clinical trials.
On 1 February 2016, based on recommendations of the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee, WHO
declared the increasing cases of neonatal and neurological disorders, amid the growing Zika outbreak in the Americas, a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

UPHOLDING WOMENS HUMAN RIGHTS ESSENTIAL


TO ZIKA RESPONSE HIGH COMMISSIONER ZEID

Upholding womens human rights is essential if the response to the Zika health emergency is to be effective, UN
High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Raad Al Hussein
said Friday, adding that laws and policies that restrict access
to sexual and reproductive health services in contravention of
international standards, must be repealed and concrete steps
must be taken so that women have the information, support and
services they require to exercise their rights to determine
whether and when they become pregnant.
Clearly, managing the spread of Zika is a major challenge
to the governments in Latin America, Zeid said. However,
the advice of some governments to women to delay getting
pregnant, ignores the reality that many women and girls simply
cannot exercise control over whether or when or under what
circumstances they become pregnant, especially in an environment where sexual violence is so common.
In Zika-affected countries that have restrictive laws governing womens reproductive rights, the situation facing
women and girls is particularly stark on a number of levels,
the UN Human Rights Chief said. In situations where sexual
violence is rampant, and sexual and reproductive health services are criminalized, or simply unavailable, efforts to halt this
crisis will not be enhanced by placing the focus on advising
women and girls not to become pregnant. Many of the key issues revolve around mens failure to uphold the rights of
women and girls, and a range of strong measures need to be
taken to tackle these underlying problems.
The World Health Organization has declared a Public
Health Emergency of International Concern amid concerns of
a possible association between upsurges in reported cases of
Zika virus disease and of microcephaly in Latin America. A
6

causative link between Zika and microcephaly (babies born


with abnormally small heads), and Zika and Guillain-Barr
Syndrome (a neurological condition), is still under investigation.
Amid the continuing spread of the Zika virus, authorities
must ensure that their public health response is pursued in conformity with their human rights obligations, in particular relating to health and health-related rights.
Upholding human rights is essential to an effective public
health response and this requires that governments ensure
women, men and adolescents have access to comprehensive and
affordable quality sexual and reproductive health services and
information, without discrimination, Zeid said, noting that comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services include contraception including emergency contraception maternal
healthcare and safe abortion services to the full extent of the law.
Health services must be delivered in a way that ensures a
womans fully informed consent, respects her dignity, guarantees her privacy, and is responsive to her needs and perspectives, he added.
Laws and policies that restrict her access to these services
must be urgently reviewed in line with human rights obligations in order to ensure the right to health for all in practice,
Zeid said.
Drawing on lessons learned from the Ebola outbreak in
West Africa in 2014, another crucial element of the response
should be the systematic dissemination of accurate information
on how Zika spreads, how to prevent it and its health consequences, the High Commissioner said.
HC/16/10

Journal of Humanitarian Medicine - Vol. XVI - N 1 - January-March 2016

GUANTNAMO BAY, 14 YEARS ON RIGHTS EXPERTS URGE


THE US TO END IMPUNITY AND CLOSE THE DETENTION FACILITY

A group of human rights experts from the United Nations


and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
(OSCE) have urged the United States Government to put an
end to impunity for the human rights and humanitarian law violations committed in the so-called global war on terror, and
to promptly close down the Guantnamo Bay detention facility.
The United States must clean up its own house - impunity
only generates more abuses as States do not feel compelled to
stop engaging in illegal practices, the experts said in an Open
Letter (read the experts Open Letter: http://www.ohchr.org/
Documents/Issues/SRTorture/OpenLetterGTMOJan11
2016.docx) published today, 14 years after the detention center
became operational.
Long term security can be regained if a page is turned on
this dark chapter of post-9/11 practices in response to terrorism, noted the UN Special Rapporteurs on torture, Juan E.
Mndez; on human rights and counterterrorism, Ben Emmerson; on independence of the judiciary, Mnica Pinto; the ChairRapporteur of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention,
Seong-Phil Hong; and the director of the OSCE Office for
Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, Michael Georg
Link.
Everyone implicated, including at the highest level of authority, must be held accountable for ordering or executing extraordinary renditions, secret detention, arbitrary arrest of
civilians and so-called enhanced interrogation techniques in
the name of combatting terrorism, they said.
The experts recalled that close to a hundred detainees still
languish in Guantnamo after years of arbitrary detention without trial, outside of the rule of law and the reach of the US regular courts, despite an executive order issued by President
Barak Obama in January 2009 to release or transfer them and
close down the facility within one year.
They are the forgotten ones as the United States moves
from a war on terror to a war on extremism, without having

acknowledged, reflected and made amends for past violations


of fundamental human rights, they stressed.
In their Open Letter, the experts called for an immediate
end to the prolonged arbitrary detention of all Guantnamo Bay
detainees by releasing them to their home country or to a third
country should they be at risk of persecution, or transferring
them to regular detention centers in the US mainland so they
can be prosecuted before ordinary courts.
The US Government must also ensure that current and
former Guantnamo detainees as well as individuals who have
been secretly detained have access to full redress for violations
of their freedom from arbitrary detention, torture and ill-treatment, the UN and OSCE human rights experts stressed.

Ends
The Special Rapporteurs and Working Groups are part of
what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights
Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent
experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name
of the Councils independent fact-finding and monitoring
mechanisms that address either specific country situations or
thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures
experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and
do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent
from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.
ODIHR is tasked with assisting the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) participating States
to ensure full respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms; to abide by the rule of law; to promote principles of
democracy; to build, strengthen and protect democratic institutions; and to promote tolerance throughout their societies.
The Office also plays an important role in enhancing dialogue
among States, governments and civil society.
HR/16/2

EUROPEAN UNION SUMMIT: MIGRANTS IN EUROPE


HAVE BECOME FAIR GAME, SAYS UN RIGHTS EXPERT

As the European Union summit starts in Brussels, the


United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, Franois Crpeau, warns that it has become impossible
in Europe to have a meaningful discussion about migrants
rights, diversity, and integration.
Mr. Crpeau calls on the leaders of the 28-nation bloc gathering on 18-19 February to halt the continuous regression of
the human rights of migrants as Europe struggles to deal with
its migrant crisis. In his appeal, the Special Rapporteur reiterates the key messages of his 2015 report on the management
of the external borders of the EU and its impact on the human
rights of migrants.
Europe has always been a strong advocate of human
rights in Europe and elsewhere. In its struggle to maintain control of its borders however, it is being tested on its adherence
to human rights. Through slowly stripping away the rights of
asylum seekers and migrants, Europe is creating a scary new

normal.
What we now see is European governments focused on
feeding their electorate with the fear of migrants for clear electoral purposes. Governments pandering to nationalist populist
movements have promised to keep migrants out but have been
unable to do so simply because the emphasis on securitisation
doesnt work. European countries must offer safe and regular
channels for mobility. It is the only way that European countries will regain full control of their borders.
The operationalisation of the NATO military operation recently announced by European leaders raises many questions. What will NATO do that Frontex didnt do? When
intercepting a migrant boat, what will the procedure be? Will
they embark migrants on their navy ships as the Italians did in
Mare Nostrum? If they do, where will they disembark them?
To what authority will they transfer them? How will simple
pushbacks be prevented? How will they treat the migrants on

Journal of Humanitarian Medicine - Vol. XVI - N 1 - January-March 2016

board? How will they identify protection needs? And how will
we know what NATO forces are doing? What civilian oversight
mechanisms will be in place to ensure the protection of the
rights of the migrants during the operation?
Fighting the smugglers is a red herring: as long as persons in need of mobility are not provided with official mobility
solutions, unofficial channels will be provided by opportunistic
smuggling rings. I have repeatedly said that overreliance on
securitisation of borders will not work. People will continue to
come because they need to survive. And smugglers will continue to adapt, prosper and exploit the migrants as long as their
business model is not effectively destroyed. The only way to
actually eliminate smuggling is to take over their market by offering regular, safe and cheap mobility solutions, with all the
identity and security checks that efficient visa procedures can
provide.
It is appalling to see how the discussion concerning migrants has been lowered to the smallest common dominator,
feeding off fear and xenophobia and making migrants fair
game for all types of verbal or physical abuse. Migrant-bashing
has dangerously become the norm and the standard is so low
now that to have a meaningful and serene discussion about
rights, diversity and integration is often impossible.
Europe must reclaim its role as a moral and political leader
of human rights in this debate of fear, stereotyping, racism and
xenophobia. I continue to urge European political leaders to
show moral and political leadership in fighting much more vigorously racism, xenophobia and hate crime, by consolidating

our common human rights culture and strengthening its institutions at all levels, and in celebrating the diversity of cultures
and religions as an enrichment for everyone, citizens and foreigners alike.
Check the 2015 EU border management report
(A/HRC/29/36).
Mr. Franois Crpeau (Canada) was appointed Special
Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants in June 2011 by
the UN Human Rights Council, for an initial period of three
years. As Special Rapporteur, he is independent from any government or organization and serves in his individual capacity.
Mr. Crpeau is also Full Professor at the Faculty of Law of
McGill University, in Montral, where he holds the Hans and
Tamar Oppenheimer Chair in Public International Law and is
scientific director of the Centre for Human Rights and Legal
Pluralism.
The Special Rapporteurs are part of what is known as the
Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN
Human Rights system, is the general name of the Councils independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms. Special
Procedures mandate-holders are independent human rights experts appointed by the Human Rights Council to address either
specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the
world. They are not UN staff and are independent from any
government or organization. They serve in their individual capacity and do not receive a salary for their work.

IAHM

International Association for Humanitarian Medicine


Brock Chisholm
On the INTERNET http://www.iahm.org

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