A question for Dubai 2020

Lately, I’ve briefly visited Dubai and a few other places in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).  As reported elsewhere, I quite enjoyed the visit, much appreciated the very generous welcome by the local host of the next EV venture, and of course, just having a look in a new country (at least for me) is always a neat thing to do. So, in general, I think the next global HSR symposium in Dubai should be a great event, and I’m already looking forward to it. In many ways, Dubai is a very appealing and fitting location for a global HPSR symposium in 2020, also with a view on the current global health & HPSR challenges.

Still, after the visit I remained with one question, even if I know it's early days for "Dubai 2020".  The current draft of the symposium programme looks fairly ‘political’, and obviously, I find this more than appropriate, given our rather political times (see for example ‘Extinction rebellion’ (in the ongoing battle against climate change), the increasing polarization in many countries, after we saw TINA (“centre-right”) policies for too long, …), and the fact that health has always been (at least partly) political (and now even more than ever, some would argue). Still, I somewhat wonder how ‘cutting edge’ discussion on all these political issues will take place in Dubai, and especially how social media ‘coverage’ (including ‘noise’) of these (more political) symposium discussions will go. It’s a rather peculiar environment, certainly when it comes to social media. I certainly don't envy the job of the organizers & Communications people in this respect.

I’m sure the HSG Board has already deeply reflected on this issue, and there’ll likely be some recommendations and guidelines for symposium participants in the months to come, but I’m afraid at least some participants will have to thread a thin line between criticizing injustices in the world (including in “global health” itself) and “speaking truth to power” on the one hand, and breaking the laws of UAE and/or “not respecting” the local culture, on the other, certainly in the interconnected world we live in. At the same time, if we do manage to criticize some issues (within certain limits, obviously), that could push the UAE (and our own countries’ involvement in some issues) towards progress, and Leaving No One Behind in the medium term.  It will be about finding a good balance, is my sense, but that's easier said than done.

A few examples of possible controversies:

·     *    Patriarchy: although Dubai is fairly open for (and relaxed about) people from around the globe (including their various ways of clothing), and progress is gradually being made, patriarchy is (still) everywhere in the country. If that already bothers me ( a fairly average white male), I can only imagine how certain communities within the HPSR family will react. Two personal examples, for what they’re worth: I personally draw the line at niqabs, when it comes to clothing (anybody who sincerely believes that women should cover their face in public in the 21st century, when their husband is not doing the same, can try and come convince me), and also seeing the wisdom of invariably male rulers displayed on billboards isn’t exactly my idea of a political system fit for the 21^st century. I know both examples are potential minefields to wade into, and my opinion is certainly only one person’s opinion, no more - even a Western middle-aged male’s, which might disqualify me altogether from even having an opinion worth listening to on the first issue, I’m aware. But the strong patriarchy is an issue, nevertheless, I think, certainly in times where we think SDG5 (on gender equality) is crucial for the entire SDG agenda, and gender equity is rising on the global health agenda and in global health governance, for very good reasons by the way. How will we discuss this at the Dubai symposium, while also trying to respect local sensitivities and culture? I hope this doesn’t mean we’ll have to frame everything in politically correct “jargon” on social media.   

·      *   Migration & health:  we came across (many) taxi drivers who work 12 hours a day, day after day (and even one who worked 20 hours a day, 7/7 !). I totally understand they want to earn hard cash, and that they consider this a ‘win-win’ situation in most cases…  But still, one would like to discuss this full-on, within SDG 8 (‘decent work & economic growth’), while certainly also acknowledging some of the progress made in recent years (for example, quite a few of them had health insurance now). Again, if you discuss this in-depth during sessions, what will be the guidelines for social media?

·     *    More tricky still, how about discussing the ‘causes of the causes’, the roots of some of the big migration waves, crises and ‘fragile & conflict affected settings’ in recent years? For example, hard to avoid weapons & weapons trade (including, clearly, Western countries’ own involvement in these) in this discussion, in, say, Syria, Yemen, …

·     *    Final example: global taxation. Just a personal example again: in a UHC era whereby countries agree, at least in rhetoric, more and more on the importance of public financing for health, last year I came across an article on how at least some Belgian companies seem “fairly happy” with the taxation rules in Dubai. Again, (global tax justice) progress might be on the horizon (at least if I believe the ‘glass half full’ person in me), but meanwhile, will we be able to really discuss this issue in-depth, including on social media?

These were just a few random examples, but I’m curious how HSG will handle all this next year. It will certainly be a difficult equilibrium to find.  But I’m confident we can pull it off, if we want. After all, at previous symposia (say, Cape Town, Vancouver, Liverpool, …) many of the local challenges also provided the backdrop for insightful and hardhitting discussions in various sessions at the symposium, including on social media.