A public lecture presented by the Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research (DIGHR) on Sept. 18 will explore themes of humanitarianism and feature International President of Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) Joanne Liu. The event is free to attend.
During Liu’s talk, titled “21st Century Humanitarianism,” she will describe her view of the politics and contemporary challenges of humanitarianism.
Topics that may be a point of focus could include:
- attacks on humanitarian sites (hospitals, clinics) and schools;
- global pandemic disease;
- refugee population growth; and
- escalating violence within international humanitarian law.
Liu was elected international president of MSF in 2013 and trained at McGill University’s School of Medicine, specializing in pediatrics. She began MSF field work in 1996 and has undertaken more than 20 missions in Central Africa, Central Asia and the Middle East. Her operational contributions to MSF range from introducing comprehensive medical care for survivors of sexual violence to developing a telemedicine platform connecting physicians in remote sites with medical specialists worldwide.
Liu is an advocate of anchoring MSF’s identity in field-based, quality-driven patient care and seeks to introduce the same into the global health arena.
MSF is an independent international humanitarian organization that delivers emergency medical aid to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, natural and man-made disasters or exclusion from health care in more than 60 countries around the world.
The lecture will take place from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Tribute Communities Recital Hall, Accolade East Building, York University. Tickets (free to all) are available at go.yorku.ca/msf.