"MIND the GAP" Migration and
HIV Summit

Our work with migrants from across the world now residing or in transit in the WHO European region over the past 5 years has shown us that there is a need for a more comprehensive approach to addressing the health needs of migrants and in particular the existing caps in the HIV cascade of care.

 

ECDC data has consistently shown disproportionate burden of HIV amongst migrants as well as several barriers across the cascade of care. For example, a recent UNAIDS and Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp TM review of HIV among migrants in precarious circumstances in the EU and European Economic Area (1) found that migrants face challenges in access to health and HIV services, with irregular migrants, foreign-born key populations such as men who have sex with men, sex workers, people who inject drugs and migrants from sub-Saharan Africa being most affected. 

 

Migrants living in the EU/EEA face specific vulnerabilities to HIV and must navigate unique legal, social, cultural, linguistic and economic barriers to access prevention and care services. The rise of anti-migrant movements across the region has also ushered in a new wave of punitive policies, limited support for migrants in vulnerable situations, and xenophobic, homophobic, transphobic and racist vitriol. Furthermore, the fallout from COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine continues to compound these healthcare disparities, systems inadequacies and social and economic inequalities impacting Black and ethnic minorities.

 

The Summit will involve some 80 stakeholders including from the Mi-Health HIV Partnership, migrant-led organisations, academic institutions, policymakers, politicians, clinicians, commissioners to explore and propose actionable recommendations on the following:

• Key challenges and gaps in the HIV cascade of care (lived experiences from the frontline)

• Data and research gaps in HIV (launching a petition for better data for migrants)

• Prevention, testing and treatment guidelines for migrants including access to innovative biomedical interventions, e.g., PrEP and U=U.

• Advocating for a broader approach to inclusion and health equity regardless of ethnicity or origin

• Practical ways of addressing the immediate HIV-related needs of migrants from conflict areas, such as Ukraine and the Sahel and horn of Africa regions

 

Day 1 will focus on migrant community stakeholders drawing on their current work with migrants to present case studies and experiences from the frontline and brainstorming on key priorities for discussions on Day 2. It is envisaged that these sessions will allow for the partnership and community stakeholders to develop concise and clear priorities to present during the roundtable on Day 2.  

Day 2 will feature a roundtable discussions involving policymakers, the leadership and representatives of key institutions such as UNAIDS, ECDC, European Parliament, DG Sante, amongst others to assess the current situation with regard to HIV services for migrants. 

 

Delegates will explore on actionable recommendations and steps to influence HIV and healthcare policies and practices and propose practical recommendations to address existing barriers, and gaps with the goal advancing equity in HIV service delivery for migrants across Europe.

 

Structure

• Day 1 (Community Session) will focus on community stakeholders presenting experiences from the frontline and brainstorming on key messaging and discussion points for the second day

• Day 2 (High Level Policy Roundtable ) will feature a roundtable discussion with policymakers and key institutions on actionable recommendations and steps to influence HIV and healthcare policies and practices with the goal of advancing the migrant health agenda across Europe.