Newswise — WASHINGTON (Oct. 24, 2016) — What are the legal and policy issues that support forced migrants and what are the gaps in international law that may leave certain forced migrants vulnerable and without access to health or legal protections?

The world is facing virtually unprecedented levels of forced migration as people around the world flee their homes to escape war, violence and persecution. Forced migrants, including asylum seekers and refugees, face particular health issues relating to the situation that precipitates their flight, the nature of their journey, the conditions along the way and the varying levels of legal protection that they are afforded under international law.

At the Oct. 26 O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law Colloquium, panelists will address these issues plus examine the scale of forced migration and the physical and mental health risks associated with forced migration.

WHAT: Asylum Seeker & Refugee Health, Law & Policy

WHEN: Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016; 1:20 – 3:20 p.m. WHERE:Georgetown University Law CenterFaculty Dining Room, Hotung Room 2001550 First Street, NWWashington, DC 20001

WHO:Moderator: Lindsay Harris, Refugee & Immigration Law University of the District of Columbia, David A. Clarke School of LawKatharine Donato, Director, Institute for the Study of International MigrationPhilip Schrag, Georgetown University Law CenterSheetal Patel, Refugee Psychologist

MEDIA: Space is limited. Please RSVP by 5p Tuesday, Oct. 25 with Karen Teber: [email protected]

The hashtag for this event is #oneillcolloquium.

About the 2016 O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law Colloquium The Colloquium engages leading experts, Georgetown students and faculty, and the public in an enriching dialogue surrounding current and pressing issues in national and global health law, policy, and governance. Colloquia intentionally blur the lines between students, faculty and policymakers, as a wide variety of perspectives enhances the learning experience. The inclusion of multiple academic disciplines also promises to deepen the quality of the learning experience. 

The O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law at Georgetown University is the premier center for health law, scholarship, and policy. Its mission is to contribute to a more powerful and deeper understanding of the multiple ways in which law can be used to improve the public’s health, using objective evidence as a measure. The O’Neill Institute seeks to advance scholarship, science, research, and teaching that will encourage key decision-makers in the public, private, and civil society to employ the law as a positive tool for enabling more people in the United States and throughout the world to lead healthier lives. 

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