top of page

The New York Declaration of Health of Migrants

We, the participants of the Global Migrants Health Summit, held in New York during September 26–27, 2025, gathered with a shared sense of responsibility and commitment to affirm that the health of migrants is a fundamental human right.

 

Health is an inherent and universal right for every individual, regardless of nationality, migration status, ethnicity, or socioeconomic condition. As such, we declare that migrants, whether they move voluntarily or out of necessity, has the rights to access to basic health care in all countries across the world.

 

Migrant Health as a Global Imperative

 

Today, more than one billion people globally are on the move, including migrant workers, international students, refugees, and asylum seekers. Among them are millions of Nepali, South Asian, South East Asian, African, East European and Latin American migrants who are contributing immensely to their host nations while also supporting families and communities back home. Yet, too often, migrants face barriers in accessing quality health care, suffer from inequities in insurance coverage, and are exposed to risks of infectious diseases, occupational hazards, mental health stressors, and social exclusion. We stand united in declaring that such inequities are unacceptable.

 

Call to Governments, Agencies, and the United Nations

 

We call upon national governments, international agencies, and the United Nations to firmly and unambiguously support universal health coverage for all migrants. We urge them to align national health policies with global human rights frameworks, ensuring that migrant health is integrated into universal health coverage agendas. This includes expanding primary care, strengthening preventive and emergency health services, addressing mental health needs, and guaranteeing affordability and accessibility regardless of migration status. Governments must adopt migrant-inclusive policies that eliminate discrimination, enhance social protection, and uphold the dignity of migrants everywhere.

​

Building Coalitions and Networks

 

We also call upon organizations, agencies, associations, academic institutions, health care providers, and individuals worldwide who are directly or indirectly engaged in promoting and safeguarding migrant and refugee health to form a coalition and network. Such a coalition would serve as a platform for collaboration, interaction, and the sharing of best practices. By synergizing efforts, this network can advocate more effectively, mobilize resources, build research and knowledge bases, and deliver stronger outcomes in improving migrant health.

This coalition must be global in nature, bridging regions and disciplines, and drawing on the expertise of doctors, nurses, public health professionals, policymakers, social workers, and migrant community leaders. It should serve not only as an advocacy voice but also as a practical mechanism to coordinate interventions, respond to emergencies, and support migrants during times of crisis.

 

 

Our Commitment

 

We, the participants of the Global Migrants Health Summit, reaffirm our collective determination to champion the cause of migrant health. We believe that achieving universal health coverage for migrants is not merely a necessity but a moral obligation.

Let this New York Declaration stand as one of the guiding documents to remind the global community that health for migrants is health for all. In safeguarding the health of migrants, we safeguard the health of humanity.

​

Draft declaration sent to the presidents/representative of the following organization for their consideration for support and endorsement:

 

  • Protecting Health of Migrants, Immigrants and Refugees (PHOMIR)

  • Helping Hands Without Borders Canada (HHWBC)

  • International Federation of Medical Students Association (IFMSA)

  • Health For All Foundation (HAF)

  • South Asian Public Health Association (SAPHA)

  • Refugee Women's Network (RWN)

  • Association of Nepali Physicians in America (ANPA)

  • Texas Nepalese Medical Association (TNMA)

  • STARS Scholars Network

  • South Asian Public Health Association,

  • Nepalese American Nurses Association (NANA)

  • Girija Prasad Koirala Foundation

  • Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA)

  • Health Foudation Nepal (HFN)

  • Nepal Institure of Mental Health (NIMH)

  • Nepal America Medical Foundation (ANMF)

  • Nepalese Association of Southeast America (NASeA)

  • Center for American Medical Specialists (CAMS)

  • IMPACT-Nepal

bottom of page