There’s such a thing as “too much information”, especially for
Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders (MSF) South Asia Health and Humanity Summit 2024 aims to address existing gender disparities in the provision of health and humanitarian aid. In contexts of conflict, disaster, and areas of marginalization, the needs and voices of women are often left unheard, leading to systemic inequalities in the provision of life-saving care. By amplifying women’s voices in the humanitarian sector, our goal is to catalyze actionable strategies promoting inclusivity and equitable healthcare provisions for all individuals, regardless of gender.
The Summit seeks to unpack the complex reasons driving gender inequalities in global health and humanitarian action. Through collaborative dialogue and efforts, we aim to cultivate a more effective approach to humanitarian action—one that empowers and amplifies women’s voices as actors of change.
There such a thing as too much infornation especially for you
There such a thing as too much infornation especially for you
There such a thing as too much infornation especially for you
Civil Society: Organizations and individuals whose work addresses social issues and promote public welfare, including non-governmental organizations (NGOs), community-based organizations, grassroots movements, advocacy groups, and activists.
Academia: Professors, researchers and students in the field of international relations, human rights, area studies, public health, public policy, communications, conflict and other related fields.
Thought Leaders: Subject matter experts and industry influencers in the fields of humanitarian aid, public health, technology and social justice whose work adds value to discourse, shapes debates, drives conversations, and provides insights.
Media: Freelance and staff journalists, including photojournalists, reporters, editors, publishers etc, who report and write about health and humanitarian issues.
Grab your seat while they last we have a limited number available
There’s such a thing as “too much information”, especially for
There’s such a thing as “too much information”, especially for
There’s such a thing as “too much information”, especially for
There such a thing as too much infornation especially for you
There such a thing as too much infornation especially for you
There such a thing as too much infornation especially for you
Civil Society: Organizations and individuals whose work addresses social issues and promote public welfare, including non-governmental organizations (NGOs), community-based organizations, grassroots movements, advocacy groups and activists.
Academia: Professors, researchers and students in the field of international relations, human rights, area studies, public health, public policy, communications, conflict and other related fields.
Thought Leaders: Subject matter experts and industry influencers in the fields of humanitarian aid, public health, technology and social justice whose work adds value to discourse, shapes debates, drives conversations, and provides insights.
Media: Freelance and staff journalists – including photojournalists, reporters, editors, publishers, etc – who report and write about health and humanitarian issues
Interim Director of the United Nations University Institute for Global Health & Former International President MSF
Expertise in: Public Health, Global Health & Access to Health
Dr Unni Krishnan Karunakara is the Interim Director of the United Nations University Institute for Global Health (UNU-IIGH). Dr. Karunakara earned his medical degree from Kasturba Medical College and holds degrees in public health from Johns Hopkins and Yale Universities.
Dr Karunakara was International President of Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders (MSF) from 2010-2013. He has been a humanitarian worker and a public health professional for more than two decades, with extensive experience in the delivery of health care to populations affected by conflict, disasters, epidemics, and neglect. He was Medical Director of the MSF’s Campaign for Access to Essential Medicines from 2005 to 2007, and in 2001, he co-founded VIVO, an organisation that works toward overcoming and preventing traumatic stress and its consequences.
Dr Karunakara is currently a senior fellow of the Global Health Justice Partnership and was a senior fellow of the Jackson Institute for Global Affairs from 2014 to 2017, both at Yale University. Earlier, Dr Karunakara served as the Deputy Director of Health of the Earth Institute, Millennium Villages Project from 2008-2010 at Columbia University. He has held various fellowships and professorships at universities in China, Germany, South Africa, South Korea, Uganda, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Zimbabwe.
President of Médecins Sans Frontières Spain
Expertise in: Gender, Equality & Diversity
Paula Gil Leyva has been the President of MSF Spain/OCBA since October 2021. She holds a Nursing degree from the University of Barcelona and postgraduate degrees in pre-hospital emergency nursing and Gender and Equality. Paula began her MSF journey in 2003 in Angola, working as a field nurse and later as a field coordinator. She has coordinated MSF's HIV/AIDS program in Mozambique and held various roles in human resources management, including medical coordination and emergency response positions. Paula specializes in gender, diversity, and inclusion and has been instrumental in preventing and managing abuse cases within MSF. Her extensive experience spans nursing, team coordination, operations, and critical incident management, showcasing her multifaceted contributions to the organization.
Senior Researcher & Attorney at Law with the Centre for Policy Alternatives, Sri Lanka
Expertise in: Legal & Policy Reforms
Bhavani Fonseka is a Senior Researcher and Attorney at Law with the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA), with a focus on research and national and international advocacy. Her work has revolved around assisting victims and affected populations across Sri Lanka, legal and policy reforms, and public interest litigation (PIL).
She is the editor of the books Elusive Justice & Emblematic Cases in Sri Lanka (2023) & Transitional Justice in Sri Lanka: Moving Beyond Promises (2017) & co-editor of the book Salient Aspects of Public Interest Litigation Jurisprudence in Sri Lanka (2023). She is presently a member of the policy committee of Human Rights Watch, a board member of Women Leaders in International Justice and Accountability, and on the editorial boards of the International Journal on Transitional Justice and the Women, Peace & Security Series- De Gruyter Press.
She was an adviser to the Consultation Taskforce appointed by the Government of Sri Lanka in 2016 and a member of the drafting committee to formulate the National Human Rights Action Plan for Sri Lanka from 2017-2021. She holds an LLB (Hons.) (Bristol), LLM (Denver), and MPA (Harvard). She was a Mason Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School, Eisenhower Fellow, Asia21 Fellow, and TEDx speaker.
Co-Secretary General, The Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network
Expertise in: Refugee Rights, Statelessness, and LGBTQ+ communities
Hafsar is the Co-Secretary General of the Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network (APRRN). They are a human rights defender and Rohingya activist for gender equality, child marriage, LGBTQI, refugees, and statelessness, with more than a decade of experience working with refugee communities, INGOs, and NGOs. They are an advisory member of the Global Movement of Statelessness and served as an interim Advisory member of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Advisory Group.
Their expertise includes understanding the ground realities of challenges faced by refugees, statelessness, and LGBTQ+ communities as someone with lived experience and a passionate advocate for the power shift, inclusion, and diversity within the systems.
Executive Director of the Institute for Health Policy, Sri Lanka
Expertise in: Health Economics, Health Equity & Health Systems
Dr Ravi Rannan-Eliya is the Executive Director of the Institute for Health Policy, Sri Lanka. He trained as a physician and in political science at Cambridge before specialising in public health and doing a doctoral degree in health economics at Harvard. He has worked as a researcher and analyst throughout the Asia-Pacific region, including most of South Asia, focusing on health equity, health systems, financing, and the emerging challenges of aging and NCDs. His recent work includes directing the only regular public opinion poll in Sri Lanka and serving on the Chatham House UHC Commission.
Senior Lecturer in Medical Humanities at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka
Expertise in: Migration Health, Health Equity & Planetary Health
Dr Santhushya Fernando, a specialist in public health, is a Senior Lecturer in Medical Humanities at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, and a researcher on arts & humanities and health, inequality, and planetary health. She has worked in the Cheddikulam IDP camp in post-war Sri Lanka and led the incorporation of an internal migration health module into a medical curriculum at Rajarata University, Sri Lanka. Her many publications include co-authoring “Montage of Sexuality in Sri Lanka,” published by the UNPFA, and a chapter in the Routledge Handbook of Contemporary Sri Lanka on COVID-19, politics, and social justice.
Regional Director – South Asia for Amnesty International
Expertise in: Human Rights and Social Justice
Smriti is a human rights advocate and seasoned campaigns and communications professional with expertise in human rights, international development law and advocacy, and social justice. Currently serving as the Regional Director – South Asia for Amnesty International, she previously held roles including Deputy Regional Director for Campaigns and Communications and Media and Advocacy- Manager (India) at Amnesty International. Smriti also worked with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), where she managed campaigns and communications and led MSF’s pioneering COVID-19 emergency intervention in India as Deputy Project Coordinator. Before working in the development sector, Smriti was a senior legal journalist with India’s leading media publications like The Times of India and the Pioneer, among others. She is a Commonwealth Scholar and EUVP Fellow, holding an LLM in International Development Law and Human Rights from the University of Warwick, complemented by an LLB degree and BA in Journalism degree from Delhi University.
Women’s Rights Activist & Author
Expertise in: Gender Equality, Women's Issues, and Rights.
Lina AbiRafeh is a renowned activist, academic, and aid worker dedicated to advancing women's rights globally. With nearly three decades of experience, she has worked in over 20 countries, including Afghanistan, Haiti, and Papua New Guinea, developing impactful solutions for women and girls. Lina holds a master’s degree in international economics and development from Johns Hopkins University and a PhD from the London School of Economics and Political Science. She collaborates with organizations and corporations to tackle global challenges, fostering positive change in communities, classrooms, and boardrooms. Lina AbiRafeh is a leading expert in women’s rights and is committed to building a better world for women.
Former Foreign Secretary of India
Expertise in: International relations, Foreign policy, Author and Policy advisor
Ambassador Shyam Saran is a former Foreign Secretary of India and has served as Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for Nuclear Affairs and Climate Change. After leaving government service in 2010, he has headed the Research and Information System for Developing Countries, a prestigious think tank focusing on economic issues(2011-2017) and was Chairman of the National Security Advisory Board under the National Security Council from 2013 to 2015. Shyam Saran is currently the President of the India International Centre and a Honorary senior Fellow with the Centre for Policy Research. His book, “How India Sees the World” was published in September 2017. He has now published his second book, “How China Sees India and the World.”
On January 26, 2011, Shyam Saran was awarded the Padma Bhushan by the President of India for his contribution to Civil Service. The Padma Bhushan is the third highest national award in the country.
The Emperor of Japan decorated him with the Spring Order, Gold and Silver Star on July 30, 2019, for his services to promoting India-Japan Relations.
Executive Director, MSF South Asia
Expertise in: Humanitarian crisis, medical anthropology, hospital management, and human resources.
Farhat Mantoo is the Executive Director of MSF in South Asia and manages offices in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India. She specializes in medical anthropology, communication, people and business leadership. She is alumni of The European School of Management and Technology (ESMT) Berlin and Indian School of Business (ISB) Hyderabad. She serves on various international committees, both in MSF and externally, and has co-authored several publications. Her primary research interests are the application and relevance of low-cost quality medical innovations and implementation in humanitarian medicine. Farhat has worked for over 23 years in humanitarian and development sector in management and leadership roles mainly in Asia, Europe, and East Africa. In addition to her ED role, she is also part of core global leadership team looking at MSF operations world-wide.
Journalist and Human Rights Defender
Expertise in: Democracy, Human Rights, and Gender Equality
Marvi Sirmed, a journalist and human rights defender, has over 30 years of experience covering a broad spectrum of issues, including democracy, human rights, gender equality, and religious extremism. She has worked as a senior manager with the United Nations and European Union for programs promoting democracy and gender equality in Pakistan. Recently, she taught human rights & journalism as a Visiting Professor at the University of Connecticut for three years and is currently a Consulting Editor at New Wave Global, a digital media outlet in Washington, DC. Her work has been featured in The News, Daily Times, The Nation, The Friday Times, The Washington Post, and the Times of India. Marvi has served on the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan’s Executive Council and received prestigious fellowships, including the Reagan-Fascell Fellowship and Logan Nonfiction Fellowship. In 2010, she was awarded the National Human Rights Award by the President of Pakistan.
Senior policy advisor to The People Medicine Alliance & Senior health policy consultant to UNAIDS
Expertise in: Health and medicine policy & programming
Dr Mohga Kamal-Yanni is a Senior Health Advisor with 40 years of experience in health and medicine policy and programming in developing countries, with international and national health and development agencies including multilateral agencies, NGOs and governments.
Currently senior policy and technical advisor to UNAIDS and the People Vaccine Alliance on access to medical technologies and Key advisor to the NGO board members of UNITAID, member of HAI board and member of the WHO COVID Ethics & Governance Expert Group. Currently engaged in the civil society work on the Pandemic Accord.
Have been deeply engaged with most international health organizations including WHO, The Global Fund, UNITAID, Medicine Patent Pool and the World bank as well as with pharmaceutical companies.
Human Rights Defender, Writer and Educator from Sri Lanka
Expertise in: Transitional Justice & Minority Rights
Ruki is a Sri Lankan human rights defender, writer, and educator involved in campaigning and advocacy in Sri Lanka and Asia. Focus areas have included transitional justice, freedom of expression, human rights defenders, the UN human rights system, minority rights, religious freedom, refugees, internal displacement, enforced disappearances, political prisoners, etc. Presently, he is a Consultant to the Centre for Society and Religion (CSR), in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Former chairman of Rights Now Collective for Democracy, the executive committee of Free Media Movement of Sri Lanka, and Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA).
Founder and the Executive Director of The Azadi Project
Expertise in: Women's & refugee development and advocacy
Priyali Sur is the Founder and the Executive Director of The Azadi Project, an organization that works for women from marginalized and refugee communities. She has built and implemented programs across Europe, Africa and South Asia, supporting more than 7,000 refugees and migrants from Afghanistan, India, Iran, Iraq, Myanmar, Niger, Syria, Ukraine and Yemen. She was a former news anchor for CNN-IBN in India, and has consulted as a Social Development expert for the World Bank in Washington, D.C. Her work has been published in CNN, NPR, PBS, and The Guardian, among other international media outlets.
Director – Programmes Unit, Médecins Sans Frontières, South Asia
Expertise in: Global Health
Ghada Khemissi joined Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)/ Doctors Without Borders in 2011 and has worked in various capacities, mainly internationally (Burkina Faso, Iraq, Afghanistan, India, Turkey, Haiti, Libya, etc.), with MSF and other humanitarian organizations in technical and management roles. She also brings strong MSF institutional knowledge after working closely with the MSF International Board for over two years. Ghada graduated from the Faculty of Pharmacy in Tunisia and holds a master’s degree in Medicines’ Regulatory Affairs from Reims University in France. She took courses in Politics, Economics, and Issues of Global Health Policy at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. She is currently continuing her academic journey at Manchester University, studying for an MSc in Humanitarian Practice.
Founder & Director, Sankalp Rehabilitation Trust & Activist for Access to Medicine
Expertise in: Access to medicine, HIV Prevention & Harm reduction of drug use
Eldred has 41 years of experience in the social sector working with street Drug Users and is the Founder & Director of Sankalp Rehabilitation Trust. Sankalp has developed critical outreach services in Mumbai for Harm Reduction and basic health care. Sankalp Rehabilitation Trust, founded by Eldred in 1995, is a Red Ribbon Award Winner in 2008 for leadership in the field of HIV prevention among Injecting Drug Users. He has received the Ashoka Fellowship for his pioneering work on harm reduction in Manipur, India. Eldred is also a key activist for Access to Medicine for formulations related to HIV, HCV, and TB.
Asia Chief of Operations, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)
Expertise in: Humanitarian Operations
Sergio Martín has a career spanning over 20 years in humanitarian work across diverse global contexts. He has held different roles within MSF, including his current position as Asia Chief of Operations for MSF. Prior to this, he spent 6 years as Desk in Barcelona HeadQuarters, overseeing various portfolios within the operational department. He has an extensive field experience, having managed emergencies and long-term interventions in countries such as: Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Yemen, Angola, Central African Republic, Iraq, Sudan, Haiti, Colombia, Panama or Mexico. In addition to his broad operational expertise, he has been working with a special focus on managing migration projects. His involvement spans regions crucial to migration issues, particularly in Africa (Morocco) and Latin America (Mexico, Panama).
Peace and Conflict Researcher from Afghanistan
Expertise in: Peace Building, Reconciliation & Migration
Heela is a researcher and a PhD candidate at the University of Zurich (UZH). She completed her MA in Peace, Conflict Transformation, and Security Studies at Innsbruck University. She has authored the book "Reconciliation and Social Healing in Afghanistan". She has extensive humanitarian work experience on migration with the International Federation of Red Cross.
Deputy Head, Humanitarian Diplomacy, MSF International
Expertise in: Humanitarian Affairs and Advocacy
Philipp Frisch is Deputy Head of Humanitarian Diplomacy of MSF International. Previously, he has been Head of the Berlin Advocacy Unit for MSF Germany and is with the organisation since 2009. He has worked in Humanitarian Affairs in Zimbabwe and Eswatini, South Africa, Ethiopia (Tigray and Somali-Region), Nigeria (Borno State), Ukraine, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Prior to this, he focused on the field of intellectual property rights and access to medicines and is co-author of a White Paper commissioned by the German parliament on how to incentivize medical R&D in the field of antimicrobial resistance.
Human Rights Advocate, and former UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women
Expertise in: International Law, and Human Rights Law
Dr Radhika Coomaraswamy is a distinguished human rights advocate and legal scholar with a notable career in championing the rights of women and children globally. She served as the United Nations Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict and the UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women. Dr. Coomaraswamy holds a law degree from Columbia University and an honorary doctorate from Amherst College. She has worked extensively in conflict zones, advocating for the protection and empowerment of vulnerable populations. Dr. Coomaraswamy's contributions to international law and human rights have earned her global recognition and numerous accolades.
Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH), Colombo, Sri Lanka
Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH), Colombo, Sri Lanka