Statement Public Health against Racism

PUBLIC STATEMENT

3 June, 2020

Public Health against Racism

Lethal racism has been taking place right in front of our eyes, most recently and publicly with the killing of George Floyd by a police officer in Minneapolis, USA. Many other killings against minority groups and migrants have become the norm and have sometimes been institutionalised by governments.

Such violence shows how deep the social malaise and racial violence is within society, which has acute public health consequences.

In many countries, ethnic inequities in health exist but remain unaddressed. In the US, life expectancy of African Americans is 3.5 years shorter than for white Americans. In the UK, black people are four times more likely to die from the COVID19 virus than any other groups of the population. Jobs, housing, education, public services and health policies have in many countries anchored inequities within structural and institutional norms.

The profound impact of racism demands dedicated action from every part of our society especially in public health. Our own efforts as public health experts includes being aware of, and challenging our own biases, conducting more research to document the issue and its consequences, and promoting research to test effective solutions and then translating these solutions into policies. Many researchers and lecturers have already been working on these issues. Let us make sure it becomes the work and duty of each of us at every level of our institutions in every teaching and research activity we conduct.

Professor Yves Flückiger, Rector, University of Geneva

Professor Antoine Flahault, Director of the Institute of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva

Professor Karl Blanchet, Director, Geneva Centre for Education & Research in Humanitarian Action

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