Injuries and violence in migrants and refugees as a major health challenge

Abstract

Listen

Translate article

Abstract Injuries and violence are a major health challenge among migrants and refugees, causing often both physical and mental disorders especially on vulnerable or traumatized individuals (e.g. victims of torture and trauma, unaccompanied minors and victims of trafficking and gender-based violence). Incidences are significant at all stages of the migratory process, incl.: injuries associated with different migratory modes of transportviolence and intentional injuries en routesexual and gender-based violencehuman trafficking and smugglingoccupational injuries and violenceracially incited violence, hate crimes, and religious discrimination. Knowledge is limited, e.g. due to the invisibility of victims within health and social systems, the lack of regulated and effective mechanisms to report incidences and lack of recording fatalities and missing refugees and migrants. Cross-country collaboration and commitment to cover lack of records and information are needed to address aforementioned issues.