Dear colleagues,

Dear members, at this moment our thoughts go to the people of Ukraine. EUPHA has published a statement enclosed below. Let us hope that all good forces gather in support of political solutions to save human lives.

In the shadow of the invasion, we continue our efforts to develop public health through social security, work and health.

At this moment, we want you to pay attention to information on the upcoming EPH conference in Berlin, November 9-12 2022. You can find the website at https://ephconference.eu/index.php                                       

Abstract submission is open and deadline is May 1, at 18.00 CET. Choose the conference topic “Health at work, social security and social welfare” when you submit your abstract. By doing so we improve the possibility to gather our presentations in the same sessions.

Note that we will have a pre-conference on November 9. The theme is methods and analytical strategies for longitudinal studies on social security, work and health. More details on the program will come but save the date. We really hope that many of you can participate in Berlin!

The steering group plans several workshop submissions in collaboration also with other EUPHA sections. Ute Bultmann and George Delclos plan a workshop on precarious employment and its impact on social protections in the EU. Angelique de Rijk, Agnes Meershoek and Christian Ståhl plan a workshop on social security systems during and after covid. We also discuss a workshop on gender differences in work related injuries and disabilities. If you are interested in any of these workshops and want to contribute, you can contact the persons mentioned. Workshops are submitted and accepted if the scientific standards are fulfilled in a similar process as for single abstracts.

Finally, we want to welcome three new members in the steering group of our section. Agnes Meershoek from Maastricht University, the Netherlands, Claus D Hansen from Aalborg University, Denmark and Kristina Holmgren from University of Gothenburg, Sweden are most welcome to join and contribute to the activities of our section.

Warm greetings from the SSWH steering group!

Best regards,
Gunnel Hensing
University of Goteborg

Statement by the European Public Health Association (EUPHA)

Health is at stake in the Ukraine invasion

25 February 2022

EUPHA unreservedly condemns the invasion of Ukraine by armed forces. As a public health organisation, it notes that the invasion poses important threats to health in the immediate future and the longer term:

1. a) As set out in the 1986 Ottawa Charter, peace is the first prerequisite for health. The invasion has already led to unnecessary deaths among the Ukrainian people and the invading forces, including an attack on a hospital, a clear violation of the Geneva Conventions;
2. b) The invasion, with the inevitable displacement of people, destruction of infrastructure, and disruption of trade will have severe economic consequences for the people of Ukraine, many of whom have been living precarious lives, with obvious implications for their health;
3. c) The invasion is a clear threat to the democratically elected government of Ukraine. The democratic process is a means by which the health needs of a population can be turned into policies, with clear evidence that it contributes positively to health.

Furthermore, EUPHA notes:

1. a) the repeated efforts by the Ukrainian government and by western leaders to prevent this act of unprovoked aggression;
2. b) the right, under Article 51 of the UN Charter, of the Ukrainian government to take action in self-defence.

EUPHA calls for:

1. a) An immediate cessation of hostilities, followed rapidly by a withdrawal from the territory of Ukraine, supervised by international monitors from either the United Nations or Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe; Page 2/2
2. b) Respect for the Geneva Conventions, and in particular the protection of health workers and facilities;
3. c) Full implementation of the Minsk II agreement; and
4. d) Respect for the rights of those in the Russian Federation who are calling for peace.

EUPHA further stands in solidarity with its member associations in countries that may also face future threats from external aggression, and especially those in the Baltic states.

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