On 20 June, the international community marks World Refugee Day, a United Nations observance dedicated to honouring the strength, resilience and rights of people who have been forced to flee conflict, persecution and violence.
The 2026 World Refugee Day campaign, led by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), is centred around the theme “Until Everyone Is Safe”, highlighting the urgent need for solidarity, protection and inclusive responses for displaced populations worldwide.
This year’s World Refugee Day also coincides with the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention, the cornerstone of the international refugee protection system. For 75 years, the Convention has helped safeguard the rights of people forced to flee conflict and persecution, reaffirming the fundamental principle that everyone has the right to seek safety and live with dignity.
Refugee healthcare access is recognized as a fundamental human right by the UNHCR Access to Healthcare. On this occasion, the GHTM | IHMT NOVA research community highlights the work developed by Maria do Rosário Martins Oliveira, Research Group Leader of PPS-GHTM, and her research team in the field of health care access.
“Exploring refugees’ health care access in times of COVID-19: a quantitative study in the Lisbon region, Portugal”
Published in Frontiers in Public Health in 2024, this study developed by Maria do Rosário Martins Oliveira and researchers from NOVA National School of Public Health, explores healthcare access among refugees living in the Lisbon region during the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings reveal that, although most participants were connected to primary healthcare services, significant barriers remained, particularly regarding access to information, affordability of care and culturally sensitive healthcare practices. The research highlights the need for inclusive health policies and culturally competent healthcare systems capable of responding to the specific needs of migrant and refugee populations, reinforcing the importance of health equity within global public health responses.
The full article can be accessed here.
Through research, academic collaboration and community-based approaches, the research conducted has contributed to advancing knowledge on health inequalities, access to healthcare and the social determinants affecting migrant and displaced populations.
At a time when forced displacement continues to impact millions of people worldwide, initiatives focused on inclusive and equitable healthcare systems are increasingly important. The work carried out at GHTM reinforces the role of global health research in promoting dignity, human rights and access to healthcare for all.
By addressing the specific challenges faced by migrant and refugee communities, the work developed by Maria do Rosário Martins Oliveira and her research team reflects GHTM’s ongoing commitment to socially responsive research, health equity and the advancement of inclusive public health policies with global impact.
“Becoming a refugee is never a choice. But how we respond is.”UN Secretary-General António Guterres
Related publications:
- “Patterns of healthcare use among children with immigrant and non-immigrant backgrounds in 2019 and 2020” — BMC Public Health (2023).
- “Cohort profile: Health trajectories of Immigrant Children (CRIAS) – a prospective cohort study in the metropolitan area of Lisbon, Portugal” — BMJ Open (2022).
- “Are immigrants more vulnerable to the socioeconomic impact of COVID-19? A cross-sectional study in Amadora Municipality, Lisbon metropolitan area” — Frontiers in Public Health (2022).
- “Assessing reported cases of sexual and gender-based violence in European asylum reception facilities” — Globalization and Health (2018).
- “Percurso de saúde da criança imigrante: um estudo de coorte para o concelho da Amadora” — published by Observatório das Migrações (2023).
