The International Day in Support of Victims of Torture is observed every year on 26 June.

"2013 marks the 20th anniversary of the World Conference on Human Rights, which led to the adoption of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action and the establishment of a High Commissioner for Human Rights. Its creation gave a new impetus to the recognition of human rights principles which has seen fundamental progress in the promotion and protection of human rights. The United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture — among the largest humanitarian trust funds of the United Nations — has assisted hundreds of thousands of victims of torture to rebuild their lives". 

Center for Victims of Torture (CVT) is featured in this United Nations Human Rights~Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights story:
   
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/Acallforactioninsupportofvictimsoftorture.aspx

CDC Refugee Health Blog... Blog of the Week

CDC IN THAILAND: WORKING ABROAD FOR GLOBAL HEALTH SECURITY Last week, CDC Director Tom Frieden visited Thailand. While there, Dr. Frieden visited CDC's local office and saw first-hand examples of CDC's successful collaboration with agencies of both Thailand’s government and the U.S. government. One such example was the Mae La refugee camp, where CDC is helping improve the health of Burmese refugees. Hear Dr. Frieden talk about his trip in this week's blog...read blog

VALUABLE RESOURCE:

ECHO Minnesota

Emergency, Community, Health & Outreach

By  DeDee Varner

When the HealthPartners Equitable Care Fellows gathered on March 6 for our annual kick-off dinner, fellowship and training event, Dr. Patricia Walker shared a sad story about a patient who needlessly died simply because, as a new immigrant, he did not know that help was a 3-digit phone call away. You can read more on this touching story in April's Minnesota Medicine:http://www.minnesotamedicine.com/portals/mnmed/april%202013/lostintranslation1304.pdf .

Explaining community safety and health concepts to non-English speakers became a little easier in 2004, with the establishment of ECHO Minnesota.  ECHO has been collaborating with diverse communities to deliver programs and services that help people be healthy, contribute, and succeed in the local community.  ECHO collaborates with spokespersons in East African, Latino, and Southeast Asian communities.  These spokespersons serve a role similar to a news anchor or media talent to host programs and create emergency public service announcements for radio, television, phone, community outreach and print communications.

Perhaps you have seen a snippet of an ECHO program on a local public television station.  Did you know that all of the programs are also available at any time on the ECHO website?

Resources at your Fingertips

If you only have time to make one click, check out this page on ECHO: http://www.echominnesota.org/tools/echo-tv/view-all-shows .  Here you will find a listing of all shows already sorted by topic area.  Select a topic of interest and a specific show title; each show is about 25 minutes in length.  The script is also available to download and print. 

World Refugee Day 

Each year on June 20th the United Nations and countless civic groups around the world celebrate World Refugee Day.

World Refugee Day was established by the United Nations to honor the courage, strength and determination of women, men and children who are forced to flee their homes under threat of persecution, conflict and violence. Millions need your help.

http://www.worldrefugeeday.us/site/c.arKKI1MLIjI0E/b.8092105/k.B369/World_Refugee_Day.htm

http://www.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2013/06/210935.htm

Congratulations to the winners of the 2013 Global Health Pathway Award for Outstanding Achievement!

Global Health Scholarship and Humanitarianism

Medicine-Pediatrics Residency Program Graduate

- Malini DeSilva, MD

Internal Medicine Residency Program Graduate

- Donald Mitema, MD

Global Health Pathway Information Session Today!

Who:        Internal Medicine and Medicine-Pediatrics Interns

When:     Noon-1pm

Where:    PWB - 14-109

Host:       Mahsa Abassi, Global Health Pathway Chief

MEDIA ADVISORY For June 15, 2013

For more information, contact: Laura Doggett | 651-201-5590

TWIN CITIES WORLD REFUGEE DAY 2013

WHEN		Saturday, June 15, 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
		12 p.m.-3 p.m. –Resource fair 12 p.m.-5 p.m. – Diverse music and dance performances 12 p.m.-5p.m. – Educational activities: storytelling, arts and crafts!
WHERE		Wellstone Center, 179 Robie St. East, St. Paul, MN 55107
WHAT	Twin Cities World Refugee Day is an annual celebration of the more than 95,000 refugees who have been resettled in Minnesota over the past three decades and the countless family and friends who have joined them here.  The event will celebrate the diverse refugee communities of the Twin Cities through cultural performances, speakers, food, vendors, children’s activities, cultural displays and a resource fair.  The event is free and open to the public.
WHY	In 2000, the United Nations General Assembly established June 20 as World Refugee Day. People all over the world have celebrated World Refugee Day with events that honor the world’s over 15 million refugees and raise awareness.
WHO		Organized by representatives of local immigrant and refugee service providers and sponsored by organizations that serve refugees and immigrants, including: African Development Center, American Refugee Committee: I AM A STAR, CAPI, Minnesota Council of Churches, Minnesota Department of Health, Red Cross, and UCare.

Laura Doggett

Refugee Health Consultant

MN Department of Health - 4th Floor Freeman Building

P.O. Box 64975, 625 Robert St. N, St. Paul, MN 55164

Phone: 651-201-5590

laura.doggett@state.mn.us