PH Calls for Mainstreaming of Migrants’ Health at the Regional Preparatory Meeting for GCM 

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Sarah Lou Y. Arriola (center) called for the inclusion of health migrants at the UNESCAP organized Regional Preparatory Meeting on Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration.

08 November 2017 GENEVA — Philippine Foreign Affairs Undersecretary, Hon. Sarah Lou Y. Arriola, called for including the health of migrants as a cross-cutting theme in the global compact on migration at the Asia-Pacific Regional Preparatory Meeting (RPM) for the Global Compact on Safe, Regular and Orderly Migration (GCM) held in Bangkok on November 06 - 08. 

The RPM is organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP). Undersecretary Arriola is Co-Head of the Philippine Delegation and Chair of that meeting.

Undersecretary Arriola explained that the full and effective enjoyment of the right to health requires an enabling environment of availability, accessibility, acceptability, and quality health facilities, goods and services. “These are obligations of States – regardless of classification as origin, transit or destination,” she emphasized.

She added: “States should endeavor to cooperate on migrants’ health within the framework of their own health policies and strategies, with particular attention on strengthening the health systems of developing countries.” 

Ambassador Evan P. Garcia, Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the UN and Other International Organizations in Geneva, added that migrant’s health is a theme that could be supported by all States. “It is a win-win situation for all – for the migrants and their families, for the employers, and for the States and international organizations,” he noted. END

For more information, visit www.genevapm.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/genevapcg.