On International Migrants Day , WHO honours the stories of 304 million international migrants worldwide and calls for action to ensure health equity for people on the move. This year's theme "My Great Story: Cultures and Development", is a reminder that refugee and migrant health is a right, not a privilege, essential for resilience, development, and thriving communities. Building migrant-inclusive, culturally sensitive health systems is key to effective migration governance and to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Health equity strengthens resilience, promotes social cohesion, and protects public health for all.
Refugees and migrants are drivers of development and essential contributors to health systems, serving as health-care workers, cultural mediators, innovators, and community mobilizers. Yet, many still face legal, financial, and cultural barriers that limit access to care.
Guided by the priorities set in WHO's 2019-2030 Global Action Plan on promoting the health of refugees and migrants (GAP) , WHO Special Initiative on Health and Migration works closely with Member States and partners to advance progress toward inclusive health systems and cross-sectoral solutions that leave no one behind. Recent highlights include:
- WHO Dashboard on Global Experiences in Promoting Refugee and Migrant Health : This dynamic, interactive platform brings together 167 experiences from 83 countries around the world, collected between 2022 and 2025. Serving as a live repository of the GAP in action, it offers practical models for migrant-inclusive health systems and provides a global space for collaboration and shared progress.
- Sixth WHO Global School on Refugee and Migrant Health : Held at WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, (9–11 December 2025) under the theme "Leadership in Health and Migration," the School explored how leadership at all levels drives progress. To date, it has trained over 20 000 professionals and students worldwide, serving as a hub for knowledge sharing and inspiring action.
- Global Competency Standards for the Provision of Health Services to Refugees and Migrants : This open access free course, available through the WHO Academy equips health workers with skills to deliver inclusive, culturally sensitive care. Covering communication, collaboration, and evidence-informed practice, it helps address barriers faced by refugees and migrants.
WHO celebrates the progress and commitment of Member States in promoting the health of refugees and migrants. On this occasion, WHO urges continued, sustained, and bold efforts to address barriers to care, invest in migrant-sensitive health systems, engage migrants in health responses, and scale up evidence-based solutions – moving closer to the goal of Health for All.
