1. Who are we
2. Objectives
MEDU supports the right to health by the implementation of health projects for the benefit of most vulnerable populations. Health care and bearing witness on human rights are the core of MEDU’s action. MEDU’s action of bearing witness is based on its medical practice.
3. Mission
Medici per i Diritti Umani is a humanitarian and international solidarity association with the mission of:
- bringing health assistance to the most vulnerable population in the situations of crisis;
- promoting the voluntary commitment of doctors and other health professionals, as well as citizens and professionals of other branches indispensable for its actions;
- developing inside the civil society democratic and participative spaces for promotion and protection of the right to health and the other human rights;
- supporting cooperation initiatives aimed to bring out the role of local partners and to make the people protagonist of their own development.
Medici per i Diritti Umani, starting from the medical practice and in total independence:
- points out the risks of crisis and the threats for the health and the dignity with the goal of contributing in their prevention,
- looks for the cooperation of other partners to realize solidarity actions beyond the health line,
- denounces and bears witness on the violations of human rights and, in particular, on the exclusion from the right to health,
- develops new approaches and practices in public health, based on the respect of human dignity and of the different cultures of the people,
- commits itself to maintain a relation of total transparency with its donors.
4. Vision
The right to health along with other human rights should be for everyone not just for a privileged few.
5. Focus areas
Medici per i Diritti Umani is currently involved in national and international programs. Our projects in Italy are developed with a specific attention to the most vulnerable sector of the population excluded from access to health care.
Our projects in Italy:
- Homeless:
The project Un Camper per i diritti (Camper for rights) started in Rome (2004) and Florence (2007), provides medical and psychological assistance to the homeless trough a street mobile unit. The main goal of this project is to improve access to health care and public services on behalf of the homeless.
The majority of beneficiaries of the project Camper for rights are foreign citizens (asylum seekers, refugees, holder of humanitarian residence permit, citizens of countries recently joined to the European Community, illegal immigrants) that are excluded to health services and other fundamental rights.
- Migrants and refugees:
The program Observatory on CPT (Centers of Temporary Retention for illegal immigrants) and CDI (Center of Identification for Asylum seekers) aims to monitor respect of fundamental rights and access to health facilities for migrant population retained in these structures.
- Gender discrimination:
The project Maschio per Obbligo aim to fight women violence and gender discrimination promoting information and making aware activities, particularly to the youths. Congresses, public meeting and information campaigns has been organized in order to achieve the project’s goal.
In the international environment MEDU carried out projects particularly aimed towards the most vulnerable population in Latin America including:
- Indigenous communities
MEDU proposes to improve health conditions of the indigenous communities (Chiapas-Mexico, Ecuador) through intercultural health services promoting collective rights of the indigenous population.
- African origin communities
A project of primary, sexual and reproductive health is currently taking place with the communities of African origin in Esmeraldas (Ecuador) province. These communities, as well as right to health, are excluded to the same right to survival as people with their own identity and culture.
- Internally Displaced Persons, Colombia.
A health project is currently taking place in the rural community of Chocò and Antioquia (Colombia) which has been evacuated caused by internal conflict. These communities are excluded access to health and elementary means of subsistence as well has been threatened daily with gun violence.
The human rights of these populations are systematically violated by various subjects of the conflict.
The presence in the community of international volunteers of MEDU as well as sanitary utility, constitute a partial element of protection for the civil population against possible armed attack.
After the earthquake/seaquake that upset South East Asia the 26th of December 2004, MEDU has participated in a mission of social sanitary rehabilitation for the victims of the Tsunami in the region of Banda Aceh in Indonesia
MEDU is working on a project Osservatorio sulla salute negata (Observatory on denied health) on its web site with the object to collect data, testimonies and information about the violations of rights to health in the world. The observatory aims to build an instrument of reflection for the public on the theme of the right to health.
Offices:
Via dei Zeno 10
00176 Rome
tel. (+39)0697844892 - (+39)334.3929765 Fax (+39)0697844892
Viale Donato Giannotti 13
50126 Florence
tel. (+39)335.1853361
e-mail: posta@mediciperidirittiumani.org