Athens, Greece, 30 September to 2 October 2025
Outline
The Knowledge Forum on Refugee and Migrant Health, hosted by the WHO Regional Office for
Europe's Health and Migration Programme, is grounded in the Action plan for refugee and
migrant health in the WHO European Region 2023–2030 (the Action Plan).1 It serves as a
collaborative platform to support the implementation of the Action Plan by promoting
partnerships, sharing innovative solutions and advancing good practices. The Forum brings
together Member States, health authorities, civil society, United Nations agencies, academia and
other key stakeholders to exchange knowledge, lessons learned and experiences. It also fosters
dialogue on common challenges and opportunities, while identifying areas for joint action and
coordination across migration routes – including countries of origin, transit and destination.
The first Knowledge Forum took place in Valletta, Malta, on 16–18 April 2024 and brought
together more than 30 Member State representatives, United Nations agencies and key partners
from the WHO European and Eastern Mediterranean Regions. The Knowledge Forum included
plenary sessions on:
• governance and health leadership
• epidemiology of refugee and migrant health
• migrant-friendly and responsive health services.
Workshops were held on:
• human resources for health
• immunization services for refugees and migrants
• communication with refugees and migrants
• migration health data collection for data-driven policy-making.
The Second Knowledge Forum will take place between 30 September and 2 October 2025 and is
being organized by the WHO Regional Office for Europe's Health and Migration Programme in
collaboration with the WHO Quality of Care Programme, as well as with the Ministry of Health
and Ministry of Migration and Asylum of the Hellenic Republic, and the European Commission.
The Second Knowledge Forum focuses on key priority topics identified in collaboration with
Member States and partners:
1
Action plan for refugee and migrant health in the WHO European Region 2023–2030. Copenhagen: WHO
Regional Office for Europe; 2023 (https://iris.who.int/handle/10665/375061, accessed 4 June 2025). Licence: CC
BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.
• quality of mental health services for refugees and migrants in particular children and
adolescents;
• healthy ageing and noncommunicable diseases in refugee and migrant populations;
• enhancing cooperation for improved health care for refugees and migrants; and
• access to health-care information using behavioural and cultural insights, including health
literacy.
Purpose and goals
The primary goal of the Forum is to support Member States in the implementation of the Action
Plan.
Rooted in the outcomes from the High-level Meetings on Health and Migration in Türkiye
(2022) and Egypt (2023) and the first Knowledge Forum in Malta (2024), the Knowledge Forum
in 2025 will focus on developing interregional collaboration, with a whole-of-route approach that
emphasizes cooperation between countries of origin, transit and destination.
Main approaches
• Interregional collaboration: create a platform for representatives from different regions
to discuss and align strategies on migration-related health issues.
• Interactive learning: engage participants in hands-on, innovative sessions that foster
deep collaboration and enhance learning.
• Targeted solutions: focus discussions on key challenges and actions to overcome these,
enabling participants to identify practical solutions based on shared experiences.
Thematic focus
Day 1.TBC
Day 2.TBC
Day 3. TBC (half day).
Participants
• Representatives of the Hellenic Authorities and the host country.
• Member States from the WHO European Region, WHO African Region and WHO Eastern
Mediterranean Region.
• United Nations agencies, European Commission and relevant partners and stakeholders.
• International experts in the field of public health and migration.
• Representatives from refugee and migrant communities.
Expected outcomes
• Identify strategic partnerships and avenues for joint action to implement the Action Plan.
• Serve as a platform to strengthen the network created during the first Knowledge Forum
among Member States and key partners for information, knowledge sharing and cross-
country and interregional collaborations.
• Build the capacity of participants on practical and innovative good practice solutions to
support the health of refugee and migrant populations.
Meeting language
The Knowledge Forum will be conducted in English.
WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
ORGANISATION MONDIALE DE LA SANTÉ
WELTGESUNDHEITSORGANISATION Date: 25 June 2025
ВСЕМИРНАЯ ОРГАНИЗАЦИЯ ЗДРАВООХРАНЕНИЯ
REGIONAL OFFICE FOR EUROPE Ms Helen Sõber
BUREAU RÉGIONAL DE L’EUROPE
REGIONALBÜRO FÜR EUROPA
Adviser
ЕВРОПЕЙСКОЕ РЕГИОНАЛЬНОЕ БЮРО European Union Affairs and International Co-
Head office:
operation Department
UN City, Marmorvej 51, Ministry of Social Affairs
DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark Suur-Ameerika 1
Tel.: +45 45 33 70 00; Fax: +45 45 33 70 01
Email:
[email protected] 10122 Tallinn
Website: https://www.who.int/europe Estonia
Our reference: Your reference:
Notre référence: Votre référence:
Unser Zeichen: Ihr Zeichen:
См. наш номер: На Ваш номер:
Dear Ms Sõber,
Invitation to the Second Knowledge Forum on Refugee and Migrant Health
30 September–2 October 2025, Athens, Greece
I am pleased to inform you that the Second Knowledge Forum on Refugee and Migrant Health will take place
from 30 September to 2 October 2025 in Athens, Greece. The event is organized by the WHO Regional Office
for Europe’s Migration and Health programme, in collaboration with the WHO Office on Quality of Care and
Patient Safety (Athens, Greece), the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Migration and Asylum of the
Hellenic Republic, and the European Commission.
The Knowledge Forum supports the implementation of the Action Plan for Refugee and Migrant Health in the
WHO European Region 2023–2030 by facilitating knowledge exchange among Member States, partners and
stakeholders, and by strengthening collaboration across countries of origin, transit and destination. The second
Knowledge Forum will focus on key priorities, including quality mental health services for refugees and
migrants, particularly children and adolescents; healthy ageing and noncommunicable diseases; enhanced
cooperation to improve health care; and better access to health information through behavioural and cultural
insights, including health literacy.
I would like to invite you to nominate a senior expert whose expertise and insights would contribute
significantly to the success of this interactive Knowledge Forum. We hope for active participation that will
enrich the discussions, foster collaboration and contribute to the overall goal of improving health outcomes for
refugees and migrants.
I am pleased to inform you that WHO will arrange and cover the travel and three nights of accommodation for
the nominated representative. The working language of the meeting will be English. Should you have any
questions, please liaise directly with Ms Simona Melki (
[email protected]). I look forward to receiving your
nomination latest 06 August 2025.
Yours truly,
Ms Kristina Mauer-Stender
Acting Director
Country Support and Partnerships
UN City, Marmorvej 51 Tel.: +45 45 33 70 00 Email:
[email protected]
DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø Fax: +45 45 33 70 01 Website: https://www.who.int/europe
Denmark
Encls: Concept note
Copy for information to:
Ms Agne Nettan-Sepp, Head, European Union Affairs and International Co-operation Department, Ministry of
Social Affairs, Suur-Ameerika 1, 10129 Tallinn, Estonia
H.E. Ms Riia Salsa-Audiffren, Ambassador Representative of the Republic of Estonia, Permanent Mission of
the Republic of Estonia to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva, Chemin
du Petit-Saconnex 28A, CH-1209 Genève, Switzerland
H.E. Mr Andre Pung, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Embassy of the Republic of Estonia,
Frederiksgade 19, 4th floor, 1265 Copenhagen K, Denmark
Ms Kristina Köhler, Liaison Officer, WHO Country Office, Estonia, Paldiski Road 81, 10617 Tallinn, Estonia
–2–
Saatja: "WHO EURO Migration Health Programme" <
[email protected]>
Saaja: "Helen Sõber - SOM" <
[email protected]>
Teema: EST: Invitation to nominate
Kuupäev: 2025-06-26 09:43
Tähelepanu! Tegemist on välisvõrgust saabunud kirjaga.
Tundmatu saatja korral palume linke ja faile mitte avada.
Please see the attached correspondence sent from the World Health
Organization, Regional Office for Europe. One or more attachements may be
included.
Veuillez vous référer à la correspondance ci-jointe du Bureau régional de
l'Europe de l'Organisation mondiale de la santé. Une ou plusieurs annexes
peuvent être jointes.
Mit der Bitte um Kenntnisnahme der beiliegenden Korrespondenz (eine oder
mehrere Anlagen), Weltgesundheitsorganisation, Regionalbüro für Europa.
См. прикрепленное письмо от Европейского регионального бюро Всемирной
организации здравоохранения (один или несколько прикрепленных файлов).
WHO EURO Migration Health Programme
Country Implementation Support for Impact Unit
Division of Country Support and Partnerships
World Health Organization │Regional Office for Europe
UN City - Marmorvej 51 - 2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
Email: <mailto:
[email protected]>
[email protected]