About Our Caucus: Family Doctors for Global Justice
Who We Are
Welcome to the Caucus of Family Doctors for Global Justice. We are a dedicated network of family doctors, with a particular focus on empowering young family doctors, united by a shared commitment to addressing pressing global justice issues that significantly impact health and well-being worldwide. Our caucus provides a platform for family doctors to come together, address global justice across the world, and advocate for meaningful change.
Our Mission: Justice as a Core Health Principle
Our mission is rooted in the belief that justice is fundamentally a health issue. We leverage the unique perspective and trusted position of family medicine – a discipline deeply connected to individuals and communities – to advocate for human rights, equity, and justice on a global scale.
We are guided by core principles, including respect for universal human rights and the promotion of equity. As doctors, we are ethically bound by principles of medical ethics, integrity, and equality, which underscore the sanctity of human life, the duty to alleviate suffering, and the responsibility to provide care impartially. We believe advocating for an equitable and robust response to global crises is an ethical imperative.
We are committed to ensuring that our professional bodies, such as the World Organization of Family Doctors (WONCA), consistently uphold these vital values in the face of global crises.
Our Work: Advocating for Consistent Action
The Caucus of Family Doctors for Global Justice is dedicated to tackling a range of global justice issues that undermine health and human rights. Our work currently includes a primary focus on urging WONCA leadership to demonstrate consistent and principled action regarding global humanitarian crises.
We have observed a concerning disparity in the response to the severe humanitarian situation unfolding in Palestine compared to actions taken in response to other crises, such as the situation in Ukraine. While WONCA made calls for solidarity and urged support for Ukraine, encouraged members to take action, and promoted support for specific humanitarian relief organisations like the International Committee of the Red Cross, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), and UNFPA, its public stance and calls to action specifically regarding Palestine are perceived as lacking this same level of specificity and urgency, leading to accusations of a “double standard”. This inconsistency is seen as undermining WONCA’s credibility and moral authority and contradicting the ethical principles binding doctors.
Our commitment extends beyond this current focus. Guided by our dedication to equity and international law, which defines crimes such as genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes, we aim to advocate for consistent action in response to various global crises, including humanitarian emergencies and sites of potential genocide. The period of 2022-2024 saw the highest number of attacks against health personnel globally, making their protection critically urgent in conflict zones. WONCA unequivocally calls for the protection of health personnel working in conflict areas. However, a lack of response from certain professional bodies regarding events in places like Palestine has been notable.
As our caucus grows, we will identify and launch further campaigns addressing these critical issues, leveraging the collective voice of family doctors for a more just world. We provide a space for collective action, education, and support to address pressing global issues.
Join Us
Are you a family doctor (or aspiring to be one as trainee or medical student) who believes that your role extends to advocating for justice and equity worldwide? Join our growing network of like-minded colleagues. Together, we can amplify our voices and work towards a healthier, more just future for all.
