The International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations (IFMSA) participated in the 75th Plenary Session of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Executive Committee Meeting, held from the 14th to 18th of October 2024. This active participation underscores IFMSA’s unwavering commitment to advocating for refugee health and rights.

The Executive Committee (ExCom) is the governing body of UNHCR, convening annually to review reports, discuss critical issues, and adopt resolutions on international protection and assistance for refugees. The session’s agenda items, such as the High Commissioner’s statement, the launch of the Global Alliance to End Statelessness, and reviews of budgetary priorities, were significant and directly impacted refugee health and rights.

The passionate and dedicated IFMSA delegation actively participated in the 75th ExCom Plenary Session, representing the voices and concerns of medical students worldwide.

• Enas Osama: IFMSA Liaison Officer for Human Rights and Peace Issues (Head of Delegation)
• Ana-Maria Dragu: FASMR Romania
• Georgios Athanasias: HelMSIC Greece

ExCom Agenda Highlights

• Filippo Grandi addressed the global displacement crisis and called for stronger international solidarity.
• The launch of an initiative to end statelessness within a decade.
• Discussions focused on implementing the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR), funding priorities, and regional frameworks like Cartagena+40.

Relevance of 75th ExCom to IFMSA

Forced displacement exposes millions to significant health risks, from lack of access to healthcare to the trauma of displacement. The IFMSA’s unwavering commitment to advocating for the health and rights of refugees, emphasizing their right to health and the need for inclusive healthcare systems. We focus on global initiatives like the Global Compact on Refugees to ensure refugees’ health needs are prioritized, inspiring hope for a better future.

Side Events

During the ExCom session, the IFMSA delegation attended several side events, including:

“The Road to Santiago: Cartagena+40”

This event explored the Cartagena Declaration’s role in addressing refugee challenges and implementing the GCR. IFMSA delivered an intervention emphasizing the need for a human rights-based approach to refugee policies and the critical role of youth in driving solutions.

Sudan regional refugee crisis: Development investments to strengthen the response 

The side event focused on developing investments to enhance the response to the Sudan regional refugee crisis—discussions centered on the importance of long-term solutions and sustainable development to address the needs of refugees. 

Internal Displacement and NGO Perspectives

We joined discussions on internal displacement, highlighting the importance of multilateral efforts and the inclusion of youth-driven strategies to tackle emerging crises.

Key Achievements

Strengthening Advocacy

• Delivered interventions on youth engagement and health in displacement settings.
• Shared youth report to support evidence-based advocacy for youth inclusion in refugee policy making.

Building Partnerships

• Expanded collaborations with UNHCR to strengthen advocacy efforts on refugee health and rights.
• Built a new network with NGOs working on displacement and humanitarian issues.

Increasing Engagement

• Increased IFMSA’s visibility by utilizing social media platforms like Instagram, X, and Linkedin to highlight interventions and share updates on refugee health advocacy efforts.

Youth Watch Initiative

A highlight of IFMSA’s engagement was the implementation of our Youth Watch Initiative, aimed at monitoring references to youth in ExCom statements and side events. Key recommendations include:

• Increase youth representation in civil society groups and delegations, and increase opportunities for youth to intervene in high-level discussions.
• Create more spaces for youth, civil society, and governments to have meaningful conversations that lead to actual actions.
• Encourage deeper discussions beyond brief mentions of children to include the unique challenges displaced youth face.

Reflections and Looking Forward

Lessons Learned

The ExCom session showed the role of IFMSA in global discussions around refugee health and rights. Our experience highlighted the importance of youth perspectives in shaping refugee policies. It was a reminder of the significant ethical impact that IFMSA can have in advocating for inclusive, human rights-based solutions in displacement settings, empowering us to continue our efforts.

Next 76th ExCom Plenary Session

ExCom 2025 in Geneva will be an excellent opportunity for IFMSA to strengthen partnerships and amplify youth voices in refugee health and rights. We look forward to deepening our engagement with UNHCR and other stakeholders, building on our past experiences to drive impactful advocacy and solutions for displaced populations.

Resources

Discover more about our engagement and explore related resources:

• Youth Watch Report 
• IFMSA Policies: Migrants’ Health, Forced Displacement and Health
• UNHCR Executive Committee Website

Prepared by the IFMSA Delegation to the 75th UNHCR Executive Committee Meeting.