Workshop proceedings : workshop on Health Risks in Peace and Crisis Management Operations, 8-9 November, 2011, Stockholm, Sweden

The Swedish Armed Forces as well as other deploying organisations such as the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency are increasingly involved in peace and crises management operations. Contemporary deployments present many hazards to the life and health of soldiers as well as deployed civilians. There is a need to develop strategies on how to protect personnel from any potential health hazards they might become exposed to during the individual's professional lifetime. The workshop on "Health risks in peace and crises management operations" was one delivery from a three year research project addressing health threats for Swedish international operations. The project is financed by the Swedish Armed Forces, the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency and the Ministry of Defence with the overall aim being to support the Swedish Armed Forces (SwAF) and other deploying organisations to reduce health risks for their personnel. The aim of the workshop was to gather key stakeholders and subject matter experts in a forum where knowledge, views and experiences could be shared including sharing the findings of the research conducted by the FOI. The workshop took place in Stockholm, Sweden, November 8-9 2011. It was well attended with a total of 37 persons from King's College London; Norwegian Armed Forces; Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI); Swedish Armed Forces, Centre for Defence Medicine; Swedish Armed Forces Headquarters (FM/HQ); Swedish Armed Forces Life Guards (FM/LG); Swedish CBRN Defence Centre (SkyddC); Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB); Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI); Umeå University; UN Department of Field Support; Uppsala University; US DoD/Health Affairs/Force Health Protection & Readiness and US DoD/Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force.