Context
In 2017, following an extensive consultation process with Indigenous leaders, Afro-descendants and members of other ethnic groups, PAHO Member States unanimously approved the first Policy on Ethnicity and Health. The policy includes five priority strategic lines of action to improve the health situation of different ethnic groups in the region: production of evidence; promotion of policy action; social participation and strategic partnerships; recognition of ancestral knowledge and traditional and complementary medicine; and capacity development at all levels.
As a follow-up, in 2019, the first Strategy and action plan on ethnicity and health 2019-2025 was approved, with specific indicators to measure progress in the countries on the health situation of these populations. In June 2023, during the 172nd Session of the PAHO Executive Committee, a progress report on the Strategy and Action Plan presented, which showed that more progress is needed regarding the indicators of the five strategic lines of action and their respective objectives.
Brazil, characterized by its multiethnic composition, is an ideal setting to promote this regional meeting between countries. Also, in May 2023, during the 76th World Health Assembly, Brazil proposed, to the World Health Organization, a resolution on the Health of Indigenous Peoples, which was unanimously approved by all WHO Member States. In December 2023, the anti-racist strategy for health was promoted in the Brazilian Ministry of Health. Moreover, Brazil also assumes the presidency of the G20 and will host the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (Conference of the Parties, UNFCCC COP30).
Objectives
Exchange experiences between countries on the implementation of actions in the five lines strategic of the Policy and Strategy and Action Plan on Ethnicity and Health 2019-2025, in order to advance the implementation of actions to promote ethnic and racial equity in health within the framework of the PAHO Strategy and Action Plan.
Date
3-5 July 2024
Where
Brasilia (Brasil). OPS headquarters
Type
In-person
Agenda wednesday, 3 July 2024
Welcome remarks
Traditional indigenous opening
Swendeberger Nascimento Barbosa, Executive Secretary, Ministry of Health, Brazil
Weibe Tapeba, Secretary of Indigenous Health, Ministry of Health, Brazil
Alexandre Pena Ghisleni, Special Advisor for International Affairs
Indigenous and/or Afro-descendant leader
Elisa Prieto Lara, PAHO Brazil's acting representative
Gerry Eijkmans, Director, Departament of Social and Environmental Determinants for Health Equity, PAHO
Meeting introduction, objectives and agenda
Jessie Schutt-Ainé, Chief, Unit of Equity, Gender, Human Rights and Cultural Diversity, PAHO
Strategy and Action Plan on Ethnicity and Health 2019-2025
Presentation of Policy on Ethnicity and Health, Strategy and Action Plan 2019 - 2025: progress in 2023 progress report
Sandra del Pino, Cultural Divertisy advisor, PAHO
Session 1. Strategic Action Line 1: Generation of Evidence
Panel and dialog: Experiences in the Region of the Americas for the generation of health evidence from ethnic groups.
Moderated by:
Normal Gil, PAHO
Session 2. Strategic Action Line 2: Promoting action on policies for access to universal health
Panel and dialog: Experiences in the Region of the Americas to promote policies, plans and strategies that contribute to universal access to health for Indigenous Peoples, Afro descendants and others.
Moderated by:
Ana Sena, PAHO
Gabriel Emilker Cuatin, RJILAC
Session 3. Strategic Action Line 3: Social participation and strategic alliances
Panel y dialog: Experiences in the Region of the Americas in promoting social participation and strategic alliances to improve the health of ethnic groups.
Moderated by:
Tatiana Santos, PAHO
Hellen Pintos
Key messages of the day
Jessie Schutt-Ainé, Chief, Unit of Equity, Gender, Human Rights and Cultural Diversity, PAHO
Elisa Prieto, PAHO Brazil's acting representative
Akemi Kamimura, PAHO Brazil
Exchange space between participants
Agenda thursday, 4 July 2024
Traditional opening of the day
Leaders of Indigenous and Afro-descendant Peoples
Summary of the previous day
Elisa Prieto, PAHO Brazil's acting representative
Akemi Kamimura, PAHO Brazil
Social determination of health in the context of Brazil / the Americas
Luis Eduardo Batista
Other countries
Session IV. Strategic Action Line 4: Recognition of ancestral knowledge and traditional and complementary medicine
Panel y dialog: Experiences in the Region of the Americas to recognize ancestral knowledge, traditional medicine and its references.
Moderators:
Norman Gil, PAHO
Marcela Perez, GTM
Continuation of the dialogue regarding the Line 4.
Session 5. Strategic Action Line 5: Development of capabilities at all levels
Panel y dialog: Experiences in the Region of the Americas for capacity development at all levels.
Moderator:
Ana Sena, PAHO
Key messages of the day
Jessie Schutt-Ainé, Chief, Unit of Equity, Gender, Human Rights and Cultural Diversity, PAHO
Elisa Prieto, PAHO Brazil's acting representative
Akemi Kamimura, PAHO Brazil
Agenda friday, 5 July 2024
Traditional opening
Summary of the previous day:
Elisa Prieto, PAHO Brazil's acting representative
Akemi Kamimura, PAHO Brazil
Presentation of recommendations prior consultations and dialogue
Moderators:
Tatiana Santos, PAHO
Teresa Mojica
Recommendations towards the Caribbean DPAD: Jessie Schutt-Ainé, PAHO
Recommendations from Brasil
Recommendations from the consultation in Mexico: Gabriel Emilker Cuatin, RJIALC
Recommendations from consultations towards DPAD Subregional SA y CAM: Samuel Samuels
Plenary exchange: Recommendations for each strategic line
Plenary exchange: General recommendations to present to Governing Bodies
Moderators:
Normal Gil, PAHO
Ana Sena, PAHO
Next steps towards 2025
Sandra del Pino, PAHO
Final messages and conclusions
Jessie Schutt-Ainé, Chief, Unit of Equity, Gender, Human Rights and Cultural Diversity, PAHO
Closing words and traditional closure