Commentary: From the primacy of safe passage for refugees to a global social policy

Excerpt

In a commentary on Europe’s refugee crisis published in this issue of the International Journal of Public Health, James D. Smith rightly criticizes the international community for failing to adequately deal with humanitarian needs of people in transit (Smith 2016). We agree. But we wish to extend Smith’s argument: providing better access to appropriate health care during the process of migration will not suffice. The European Union (EU) radically fails with regard to three other fundamental obligations: Firstly, ensuring safe passage for refugees; secondly, implementing liberal laws regulating immigration to EU countries; and thirdly, putting their global health strategies into practice along with developing broader global social policies. …