World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that is concerned with international public health. WHO not only is effectively working on the prevention and the eradication of different dangerous diseases but also working on the health issues of different population groups including the refuges and migrants.

According to data analysis, there are more than 65 million displaced persons worldwide, and over half of the world’s refugees are children. Women and girls are particularly vulnerable, often facing the compounding effects of physical insecurity, discrimination and lack of access to basic services and amenities. But Migration is an inevitable phenomenon. It is a human reality. Escaping violence and natural disasters, and looking for better opportunities, migrants and refugees leave their homes. They are unable to work; children are unable to attend schools and most of them are vulnerable to smugglers.

the Paris WHO Health Simulation website

Paris WHO Simulation is a student-led simulation forum for the international medical, economic, pharmaceutical students and experts to coordinate and work together in the format of WHO assembly. A student body is made at the format of the actual WHO and a particular agenda or topic is discussed. A big number of students from all around the world participate in this simulation and discuss and debate over the top issues. école des hautes études en santé publique, (known in English as "EHESP French School of Public Health") top school in public health in France hosted the simulation. This year the Simulation was held in Paris with the theme health and migration highlighting the main agendas: Health Care Worker Migration, Patient Mobility and Medical Tourism & Refugee Health and Healthcare in Conflict Situations. A number of resolutions were passed in 2nd Annual Paris World Health Organization Simulation.

Before the beginning of the simulation, delegates from different countries were selected online. I applied to represent P.R.China as the delegate and my nomination was approved one month before the Simulation. After the selection of delegates, every delegate is asked to represent the stance of his/her country by a 2 to 3 page position paper. The position paper represents the brief overview of the country stance on the current national and international issues, what has been done by the host country on these current issues and what has been done by the country on the international level.

In my position paper, I mentioned the main pillars of Chinese healthcare system. The main body of health management, namely the National People’s Congress (NPC) has the duty to amend the institution, supervise the exercise of the institution, make and revise various laws, and to supervise other departments, such as the State Council. I also analyzed the main problems faced by the P.R.China including ageing, pollution and internal migration.

Muhammad Shahbaz with the delegates of Asia Pacific region

This year at the WHO health simulation, students and experts from more than 50 countries participated, discussed and debated over the issues of health and migration. The resolution papers are represented by delegates from different countries. In order for a resolution to be presented in the plenary session, it has to be passed with a 2/3 majority from the regional block. In each region there were at least 10 countries. The Asia Pacific region was the biggest regional block in the simulation with 23 countries’ delegates. Here is the resolution which was presented by the delegate of Mexico merged with the resolution of China, DPRK with Laos as sponsors.

Regional Block: Americas Region & Asia Pacific Region. Topic: “Global policy for enhancing health access and security for vulnerable and marginalized populations”

Sponsors: Mexico, P.R. China, and Lao PDR

Signatories: Peru, Guatemala, Chile, Cuba, Aruba, Dominica, USA, D.R. Congo, D.P.L.K, Laos PDR, Colombia, Nepal, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Fiji, Tuvalu, Japan, Philippines, DPRK, Thailand, Brazil, Syria, Mongolia, Brunei Darrusalam, Turkey, Pakistan, Malaysia

Humanitarian Index Score: 75% (3/4) CARE International, Oxfam, World Vision

Transparency and Accountability Index Score: 50% (3/6) Roche, Eli Lilly, Johnson & Johnson’s

presenting the resolution

The simulation provided a good opportunity to learn the mechanism of the WHO assembly proceedings. Mainly the manners and rules to address the Chair, pass a note, raise a point of order through a diplomatic note and how to communicate with the other delegates. The simulation provides a forum for the delegates to learn how to communicate among the delegates and how to put forward the motion and proceedings of the voting and the use of language to communicate among and between the delegates. The simulations also gave a platform to learn about the different caucuses with the time period to discuss and question and answer sessions including the way to debate on an issue by using the specified time and to yield the default time to the Chair, questions to a delegate. It also gave us an opportunity to learn about how to present a motion and set the agenda, default speaking time, amend, recess and adjourn the session. Also how a delegate can use the different phrases called points, points of inquiry, points of order, points of parliamentary inquiry /procedure, and point of personal privilege to request or pertaining to communicate or inquire addressing the DIAS/Chair.

the plenary session in the 2nd day

voting at the plenary session of the Paris WHO Health Simulation

From the 3 days Simulation we learned how to make a resolution, the main parts of the resolution with the perambulatory and operative clauses and how it must meet the committees’ quorum requirements to be formally submitted into committee proceedings, with its sponsors (the resolution’s main advocates who fully agree with its content usually have significantly contributed to the resolution’s content) and signatories (members who agree somewhat with the resolution’s contents, but do not wish to advocate entirely). The resolution is presented in the plenary session and a procedural voting is done and the amendments are made which can be friendly or unfriendly. Seals of Approval from NGO Representatives are crucial to the passing of a resolution. Each resolution contains a "Humanitarian Index Score", which essentially is a score of how many NGO support the resolution.

The news of 2nd Paris WHO simulation was covered by the leading news channels and newspapers. This simulation was held successfully for the 2nd year in Paris. In the simulation the participants represented different regions including Asia pacific, African, American, Europe and Middle East region. The experts from different countries represented the health situation, problems of the refuges and migrants in their countries and presented their country stance on the issues. The delegates also represented their suggestions in the simulation .In 2nd Paris WHO simulation, 11 resolutions concerning the health of the migrants and refuges. Climate change refuges and issues of the migrants were presented in the plenary session, and 10 resolutions were passed with the majority. The passed resolutions will be presented in the upcoming WHO meetings and it will be useful for the solution of the refuge, migrant and immigrant problems. I feel immense pleasure to have represented the China& Shandong University at the 2nd Paris WHO Health Simulation and presented a resolution with Delegate of Mexico and DPRK and Laos as sponsors of this resolution, which was passed with majority.

Muhammad Shahbaz with delegates of different countries

certificate of attendance at Paris WHO Health Simulation

It is my privilege to represent P.R.China as a delegate at Paris WHO 2016 Health Simulation. In my capacity as the delegate for P.R.China, I tried my best to act and give China’s stance on different international issues and the P.R.China participation in the peaceful resolution of the different conflicts and the sustainable peace development in different parts of the world. This simulation will not only strengthen the global youth network and the awareness about WHO working, but also allow more countries to benefit from the experience of each other.

The New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants was established in the UN Assembly on September 19, 2016 with the aim to protect the human rights of all refuges and migrants regardless of their status, to increase the support for the hardiest hit countries, to assist the disappearing people, to ensure that the children get education, to improve search and rescue operation, and to boost the humanitarian funding and resettlements of the refuges. World crises need to be solved with courage and vision. “With the courageous actions to implement the New York declaration, we will ensure that no refuges or migrant is left behind.” Former Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon said.

Written by: Dr.Muhammad Shahbaz (Ali), Ph.D. student at Shandong University School of Medicine on CSC Scholarship.

Edited by: Che Huiqing