Symposium: 50 years Medicus Mundi Switzerland

50 years Medicus Mundi Switzerland: The Changing Role of CSOs in International Health Cooperation and Global Health

Medicus Mundi Switzerland (MMS) is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

On the background of the decolonization debate, the role of CSOs (Civil Societies) will be critically discussed. “Decolonizing global health" is a movement that fights against deeply rooted systems of dominance and power of international, mostly Western organizations and institutions. Criticism of the latter highlights the colonial origins of development cooperation which still shape the approaches, structures and practices followed until today. While many organizations have since long described their work as an equal cooperation with their partners in the Global South rather than «aid», working practices are still too often based on power structures which perpetuate dependencies and prevent the development of local capacity. The decolonization debate brings a new analytical quality to International Cooperation in general and to Global Health in particular.

This year, the MMS jubilee symposium will focus on understanding how CSOs are perceived in International Health Cooperation and in Global Health. It will explore how their role and work have changed since the foundation of Medicus Mundi Switzerland. Further objectives of the symposium are to learn how actors in International Health Cooperation can respond to the current dynamics as well as to debate and have an exchange about the implications of this changed landscape.

Registration is required.

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