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REMARKS BY:	DONNA E. SHALALA, SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
PLACE:		National Office of Refugee Resettlement Conference, Washington, D.C.
DATE:		November 9, 1998     

I'm thinking about the life of a young man from Iraq. He was a vocal opponent of his government's policies. His only crime was exercising rights we take for granted: the rights of free speech, free conscience, and free association. For that he was imprisoned. He was physically tortured. His family was detained and harassed. Finally, he was placed on the Iraqi government's "Most Wanted List"-and targeted for execution. Fleeing for his life in 1991, he eventually joined the generations of refugees who came past the Statue of Liberty and through "the golden door." He was alone, without friends, or support, or resources. Alone except for refugee resettlement workers who became his "life-line." They arranged financial, emotional and social support. And soon fear became freedom.oppression became opportunity.and persecution became peace. Today, that young man is taking English classes, and he's working as a computer technician. But more than just helping him make a living-people like you helped him create a life.

His story is eloquent testimony to the importance of resettlement programs in helping refugees fully integrate into American society. That's why this Administration has supported-and continues to support-your work. That's why we fought for sufficient resources for refugees to make a successful adjustment. That's why we funded an emergency camp in Guam for Kurdish refugees and then resettled nearly 8,000 in the U.S. And that's why I'm here today-to reaffirm this Administration's and my own commitment-and to continue to work with all of you to help refugees find homes and hope.

I can think of no more fitting time to do this. Because this year marks the fiftieth anniversary of the United Nation's Universal Declaration of Human Rights-which includes the "right to seek and enjoy asylum." When that document was signed, the world was just beginning to shiver from the growing chill of the Cold War. Today, the political landscape has dramatically changed. Its been almost a decade since the Cold War ended; the Berlin Wall tumbled; and the Iron Curtain crumbled. But as bipolar confrontation has receded, we've seen more sporadic internal conflicts, ethnic tensions, and political rivalries around the world. So it's probably not surprising that the face of refugees-and their needs-have also changed over the past decade.

We must now ask ourselves: With all of these changes, how do we change, too, so we address the needs of today's refugees in this brave new world? How do we help those today who still view our shores as the "golden door?" How do we make sure that all our newest refugee workers are equipped to help our newest refugees? I believe we can accomplish all of this if we meet three paramount challenges: prevention; innovation; and inclusion.

First, the challenge of prevention means that we as a nation must employ our influence and example in the world to prevent or stop crises and conflicts that drive people to seek refuge here. That's why this Administration has pursued a strategy of global engagement, because we've learned that like no man, no nation is an island

That's why I've been working with Dr. Gro Bruntland, the new Director General of the World Health Organization, and her colleagues to advance global health issues. And that's why I'm glad to see the U.N.'s leader for refugee resettlement-Mr. Shelly Pitterman-here today. I'm also pleased to welcome conference participants from at least a-half dozen nations. You are our partners in providing asylum to refugees. We need to learn together and work together to combat the root causes of refugees. But every one of you at this conference also has a vital role to play in this strategy of global engagement. All of you must help ensure that international refugee issues remain in the political mainstream-and are never consigned to the backwater.

Of course, as long as the root causes of refuges exist, we must continue to welcome those who come knocking at the golden door. And that leads to my second challenge: The challenge of innovation. We must be able to tailor resettlement services for refugees now arriving at our door. For example, in the past our services focused on resettling a majority of relatively poor and unskilled refugees. Today, many more new refugees are highly skilled and highly educated. We can't truly help them solely with "anti-poverty" programs. We need to define self-sufficiency broadly. We need to tailor our programs to reflect the refugees' new circumstances. And we ourselves must be flexible enough to change and evolve as the needs of refugees change and evolve.

Of course, once refugees have resettled, we are left with my third and final challenge: The challenge of inclusion. We must ensure that no refugee's needs are ever neglected-especially when it comes to health care. And that means we must address issues of access and equality.

Health care-including mental health services-is readily available in our refugee communities. However, refugees often cannot fully benefit from these services because of language barriers and their inexperience in navigating our complex health care system. We need all of you to go back to the communities you serve and talk with local hospitals, HMO's and other providers. Make sure they understand the unique nature of serving refugees; how to effectively work with interpreters; and the steps they can take to help refugees navigate health care.

While w e bring down barriers to access-if we really want to guarantee that no refugee's health care needs are neglected-we must also focus on equality. We must ensure that the health care concerns of refugee women-which include domestic violence-are never placed on the back burner. We must also ensure that r efugee men and women always receive equal care and attention.

This is especially important when it comes to helping victims of torture-who have very special physical and mental health needs. Since the traditional assumption is that all torture victims are male, female victims are still less likely to receive proper diagnosis and treatment. So it's up to all of you to take special care not to overlook female victims in your communities. To be sensitive to issues of sexual abuse and torture that are unique to women. And to help women find appropriate-and equal-treatment.

As we work to address the issues of equality and access, we must never ignore our greatest resource in this effort: the refugees themselves. The refugee self-help movement-which has its heart in Wisconsin-has shown us the value of empowering refugees with the funding and authority to help themselves-and to help meet the challenge of inclusion. I know that meeting the challenge of inclusion-like the challenges of prevention and innovation-will not be easy. I also know that, working together, we can and will do it-and we'll effectively address the needs of today's refugees. And I can think of no better way to celebrate 50 years of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Since those very first Puritan refugees fled religious persecution in England aboard the Mayflower-it's been America's golden door that has welcomed those in search of freedom, security and peace. As F. Scott Fitzgerald noted, "America is a willingness of the heart." But it's not only the refugees who have passed through the golden door that have benefited. Refugees from Albert Einstein, to my colleague Madeleine Albright, to that young Iraqi man, to many of our own parents and grandparents, have enriched our great melting pot with unique family and cultural strengths. So as long as Liberty stands in New York Harbor. As long as America is a refuge for the tempest-tossed. It's not only our duty-it's our privilege-to ensure that the golden door remains the gateway to a better future. To help our new arrivals along the long road from refugee to citizen. And to continue to provide refugees with homes and hope.