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With migration being such a prominent factor in daily life today, the international society has progressively grown more aware of how migrants actively contribute to positive development outcomes in both host and origin countries. Yet, they are often marginalized and face considerable barriers in accessing health care services; as a result, their ability to remain healthy and productive can be compromised. 

A milestone in this context is the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, officially adopted by the United Nations in September 2015. Setting 17 detailed and comprehensive goals to be achieved for a sustainable development, the 2030 Agenda presents opportunities and challenges with respect to meeting the needs of migrants, which have been of major concern for IOM’s Migration Health Division. 

In the wake of the 2030 Agenda call to “Leave No One Behind”, Governments are encouraged to integrate the health needs of migrants into national plans, policies, and strategies across sectors. While many goals, declined in their several targets, can be extensively interpreted and linked to the multi sectoral domain of migration health, there are some whose interpretation is particularly compelling. Entry points into the Sustainable Development Goals for migrant health include for example: 

Goal 1 

Target 1.3: Implement social protection systems including floors and achieve sustainable coverage of the poor and vulnerable 
Target 1.5: Strengthen resilience of the poor and most vulnerable to economic, social and environmental shocks and disasters 

Goal 3 

Target 3.8: Achieve Universal Health Coverage 
Target 3.c: Increase health financing and establish a sufficient health workforce in developing countries 
Target 3.d: Increase capacity of countries for early warning, risk reduction and management of national and global health risks 

Goal 5 

Target 5.2: Eliminate all violence against women and girls 
Target 5.6: Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights  

Goal 8  

Target 8.7: Eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking; eliminate child labour 
Target 8.8: Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers including migrant workers 

Goal 10 

Target 10.7: Orderly and safe migration through well-managed migration policies 

Goal 11 

Target 11.1: Access to adequate housing and basic services; upgrade slums 
Target 11.5: Reduce deaths and number of people affected and decrease the economic losses following disasters   

Goal 16 

Target 16.1: Reduce violence and related death rates 
Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, violence against and torture of children 

Goal 17  

Target 17.16: Utilize global and multistakeholder partnerships to support the achievement of sustainable development goals in all countries 
Target 17.18: Assist developing countries in increasing the availability of high-quality data disaggregated by migratory status 

More info here 

sdg health

It is in fact now widely understood that being and staying healthy is not only part of migrants’ human rights, but also a fundamental precondition for them to work, be productive and contribute to the social and economic development of their communities, both of origin and destination. 

Therefore, coordinated efforts are needed to ensure that migrant health is addressed throughout the migration cycle, as are efforts to adapt and strengthen the resilience of local health systems in light of more diverse population health profiles. Addressing the health of migrants and affected local populations reduces long-term health and social costs, is good public health practice, facilitates integration and contributes to social and economic development. The healthier migrants are and remain, the more efficient and balanced the future of our highly mobile and globalized society will be. 

Regions
Office type
Afghanistan
Albania
Algeria
Angola
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Aruba
Asia and the Pacific
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bahamas (The)
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belarus
Belgium
Belize
Benin
Bhutan
Bolivia (Plurinational State of)
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cabo Verde
Cambodia
Cameroon
Canada
Central African Republic (the)
Chad
Chile
China
Colombia
Comoros (the)
Congo (the)
Costa Rica
Côte d'Ivoire
Croatia
Cuba
Cyprus
Czechia
Democratic Republic of the Congo (the)
Denmark
Djibouti
Dominica
Dominican Republic (the)
East and Horn of Africa
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Eritrea
Estonia
Eswatini
Ethiopia
Europe and Central Asia
Fiji
Finland
France
Gabon
Gambia (the)
Georgia
Germany
Ghana
Global Office in Brussels
Global Office in Washington
Greece
Guatemala
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
IOM Office at the United Nations
Iran (Islamic Republic of)
Iraq
Ireland
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Lao People's Democratic Republic (the)
Latin America and the Caribbean
Latvia
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Mali
Malta
Manila Administrative Centre
Marshall Islands (the)
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mexico
Micronesia (Federated States of)
Middle East and North Africa
Mongolia
Montenegro
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Nepal
Netherlands (Kingdom of the)
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Niger (the)
Nigeria
North Macedonia
Norway
Pakistan
Palau
Panama
Panama Administrative Centre
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines (the)
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Republic of Korea
Republic of Moldova (the)
Romania
Russian Federation (the)
Rwanda
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Samoa
Sao Tome and Principe
Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Slovakia
Slovenia
Solomon Islands
Somalia
South Africa
South Sudan
Spain
Sri Lanka
Subregional Office in Brussels
Subregional Office in Pretoria
Sudan (the)
Sweden
Switzerland
Syrian Arab Republic (the)
Tajikistan
Thailand
Timor-Leste
Togo
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Türkiye
Turkmenistan
Tuvalu
Uganda
Ukraine
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (the)
United Republic of Tanzania (the)
UNSC Resolution 1244-Administered Kosovo
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)
Viet Nam
West and Central Africa
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe