About NARHC Inc.

Be the premiere Canadian institute, with global perspectives, developing and disseminating best practices for refugees and refugee claimants in the continuum of migration and settlement.  Equip healthcare providers and settlement workers through education, advocacy and research with the goal of achieving the best refugee settlement outcomes.

Mission

NARHC’s mission is to provide professional development for those who work with refugees. We recognize that refugees are among the most vulnerable populations and by definition therefore are in need of protection and assistance that both involves health care needs and has implications for the provision and delivery of health care programs and services.

At the heart of our work, we respect the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the UN Refugee Convention, as well as the full range of obligations under both international humanitarian law and international human rights law. NARHC is committed to upholding human rights and respects the dignity of all peoples independent of race, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity, religion, ethnic origin, political opinion, nationality, disability, age and immigration status.

As NARHC is an organization whose goal is promote best practices for refugee health care, it is imperative that we have honest, open discussions about issues that may at times be sensitive, difficult and controversial. As part of those discussions it is important for us to understand the violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law that are relevant to the health care needs of refugees. Doing so is not in any way motivated by racial, religious or other bias. It reflects our commitment to the importance of ensuring respect for international law.

NARHC rejects all forms of hate and oppression and is committed to working together with other organizations to promote peace and respect for human rights, which is essential in achieving positive outcomes for refugee health.

Strategies

Implement the North American Refugee Health Conference, which brings together multi-disciplinary experts in refugee health and settlement from Canada and across the globe, to develop and discuss challenges, and solutions to optimize refugee health and settlement.

Define, formulate, and evaluate research in refugee health and settlement, and foster Canadian and international research collaborations and networking among scholars, service providers, policymakers, and refugee community advocates.

Promote refugee health by adopting a multidisciplinary approach that brings together experts in settlement, clinical practice, health, mental health, housing and employment and other determinants of health.

Facilitate the establishment and dissemination of standards, policies and best practices relating to health and settlement of refugees arriving in Canada.

Values

• Compassion: we situate ourselves in our shared humanity, and believe that all individuals should be treated with respect, equity, and fairness.
• Advocacy: for the most vulnerable refugee populations, and the most marginalized refugee and displaced populations including LGTBI, women, extremes of ages, disabled and other marginalized or persecuted groups
• Integrity: to always abide by high moral standards, in giving the vulnerable a voice through our conference.
• Honesty: to seek the most factual unbiased information even if it is challenging.