WONCA Iberoamericana region- CIMF ​ Manifesto against violence and intolerance

The board of WONCA Iberoamericana region-CIMF release their Manifesto against violence and intolerance developed during the recent regional conference in Lima, Peru. Available in English Spanish and Portuguese.

In the framework of the 5th Ibero-American Congress of Family and Community Medicine, WONCA-Iberoamericana-CIMF writes this

Manifesto against violence and intolerance

Intolerance and the various forms of violence, which in today’s world have almost become systemic, must be understood as symptoms of a sick society, where ethical values are seriously being undermined. The results of both affect all and everyone, especially the most fragile, compromising their fundamental rights as human beings.

The Ibero-American Confederation of Family and Community Medicine expresses its great indignation at the structural violence experienced by several countries of the Region. We are especially concerned about the situation being faced by colleagues and the population of Venezuela. Also in Brazil — for the threats and losses of social rights, which, after years of improvement, are now stepping backwards.

As family doctors, we know that violence and intolerance have a strong and negative impact on people's health and on the health systems. They affect especially the primary care where we carry out our activities and where most people are cared. The consequences of this process result in difficulties in accessibility, deterioration of the quality of care, inequality, and inadequate response to health needs in this level of care.

At this time and in this context, we condemn the recent attacks in Barcelona and Cambrils, Spain, and express our condolences and support to the families of the victims. We also condemn the economic and social policies that feed the industry of inequality, leading to death from starvation of some 40,000 people a day, deliberately ignored by the media.

The family doctors of Ibero-America are going to remain committed to the health needs of the population, and reaffirm that we shall stand steady in our advocating position for universal, dignified, equitable, ethical and comprehensive health care.

Board of WONCA Iberoamericana-CIMF

Lima, Peru, 19th August 2017