Name of the organization: Medici per i diritti uamni
Website: www.mediciperidirittiumani.org
Brief description of the organization
Medici per i Diritti Umani – MEDU (Doctors for Human Rights – Italy) is a democratic and non-profit organization independent of political, trade union, religious and ethnic affiliations. Medici per i Diritti Umani was founded by a group of doctors, midwives and other volunteers involved in a humanitarian mission within Kichwa, Ecuadorian Andes.
MEDU was founded in 2004 in Rome with the purpose of bringing health to the vulnerable population and denouncing the violations of human rights and, in particular, on the exclusion from the right to health.
Problem addressed by the good practice
The problem area is the provision of information on the right to health and on access to social and healthcare services in the region.
Target groups
The target group is vulnerable groups among forced migrants (victims of torture and intentional violence, unaccompanied minors, single parents with children, pregnant women, elderly, disabled, physically and mentally ill) is of great significance, paying special attention towards victims of torture and cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment who show the physical and psychological consequences of such treatments (18-99).
Summary of the good practice
It is important to continuously work on the enhancement of the network through services, institutions and associations, with a view to a system intervention – based on subsidiarity between public and private social entities – capable of providing effective and multi-level responses.
The informational activities include primary healthcare, as well as counselling on social and healthcare services; identification of vulnerable people and referrals to the reception, social and health services, alongside with social and legal assistance in the area; identification of vulnerable patients and referrals to local mental health services and to the center MEDU-Psychè; doctors and volunteers’ training on MEDU’s working methodology, international protection, access to the rights and protection of vulnerable categories; beneficiaries’ training on prevention and promotion of mental and physical health; advocacy with the public and with institutions on the social reality of extremely vulnerable segments of the population – promoting the respect of their fundamental rights, and awareness-raising on the tortures and inhumane, degrading treatments that forced migrants to suffer in their countries of origin and along migratory routes.
Evaluation
Evaluation is undertaken by the following activities: document, testify, research and teach about these related phenomena.
Recommendations
The MEDU’s Mobile Unit in Rome project employs an integrated approach, offering clinical care alongside psychosocial support.
Resources
More information about MEDU’s Mobile Unit in Rome is available on the organization’s website.