Kutse

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.

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.

UN City, Marmorvej 51 Tel.: +45 45 33 70 00 Email: [email protected] DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø Denmark

Fax: +45 45 33 70 01 Website: https://www.who.int/europe

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION ORGANISATION MONDIALE DE LA SANTÉ

WELTGESUNDHEITSORGANISATION ВСЕМИРНАЯ ОРГАНИЗАЦИЯ ЗДРАВООХРАНЕНИЯ

Date: 25 June 2025

Ms Helen Sõber

Adviser

European Union Affairs and International Co-

operation Department

Ministry of Social Affairs

Suur-Ameerika 1

10122 Tallinn

Estonia

REGIONAL OFFICE FOR EUROPE BUREAU RÉGIONAL DE L’EUROPE

REGIONALBÜRO FÜR EUROPA ЕВРОПЕЙСКОЕ РЕГИОНАЛЬНОЕ БЮРО

Head office:

UN City, Marmorvej 51, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark

Tel.: +45 45 33 70 00; Fax: +45 45 33 70 01

Email: [email protected] Website: https://www.who.int/europe

Our reference: Notre référence: Unser Zeichen: См. наш номер:

Your reference: Votre référence: Ihr Zeichen: 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

– 2 –

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

UN City, Marmorvej 51 Tel.: +45 45 33 70 00 Email: [email protected] DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø Denmark

Fax: +45 45 33 70 01 Website: https://www.who.int/europe

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION ORGANISATION MONDIALE DE LA SANTÉ

WELTGESUNDHEITSORGANISATION ВСЕМИРНАЯ ОРГАНИЗАЦИЯ ЗДРАВООХРАНЕНИЯ

Date: 25 June 2025

Ms Helen Sõber

Adviser

European Union Affairs and International Co-

operation Department

Ministry of Social Affairs

Suur-Ameerika 1

10122 Tallinn

Estonia

REGIONAL OFFICE FOR EUROPE BUREAU RÉGIONAL DE L’EUROPE

REGIONALBÜRO FÜR EUROPA ЕВРОПЕЙСКОЕ РЕГИОНАЛЬНОЕ БЮРО

Head office:

UN City, Marmorvej 51, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark

Tel.: +45 45 33 70 00; Fax: +45 45 33 70 01

Email: [email protected] Website: https://www.who.int/europe

Our reference: Notre référence: Unser Zeichen: См. наш номер:

Your reference: Votre référence: Ihr Zeichen: 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

– 2 –

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