The current pandemic has disproportionately adversely impacted women and girls, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous. Steps should be taken to ensure a gendered response to the ongoing global health emergency, and that women and girls are put at the centre of recovery efforts.
- Human Rights Watch, Human Rights Dimensions of COVID-19 Response (March 19, 2020).
- OECD, Women at the Core of the Fight Against COVID-19 Crisis (April 2020).
- The Lancet, COVID-19: The Gendered Impacts of the Outbreak (March 6, 2020).
- United Nations, Policy Brief: The Impact of COVID-19 on Women (April 9, 2020).
- UN, Women Rise for All (Covid-19 initiative) (2020).
- UN, A UN Framework for the Immediate Socio-economic Response to COVID-19 (April 2020).
- UN Deputy Secretary General, COVID-19: New Women-led UN Initiative Aims to Save Lives and Protect Livelihoods – Launch of Rise for All (April 27,2020).
- UN Food and Agriculture Organization, Addressing Inequality in Times of COVID-19 (April 28, 2020).
- UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, COVID-19 Guidance (by topic).
- UN Secretary General, Put Women and Girls at the Centre of Efforts to Recover From COVID-19 (April 9, 2020).
- UN Women, HeForShe Launches #HeForSheAtHome Campaign (April 15, 2020).
- UN Women, COVID-19 and Ensuring Safe Cities and Safe Public Spaces for Women and Girls (May 2020).
- UN Women, Checklist for COVID-19 Response by UN Women Deputy Executive Director Åsa Regnér (March 20, 2020). [French]
- UN Women, Women and COVID-19: Five Things Governments Can Do Now (March 26, 2020). [French]
- UN Women, IDLO, UNDP, UNODC, and others, Justice for Women Amidst Covid-19 (May 21, 2020).
- UN Working Group on discrimination against women and girls, Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic Must Not Discount Women and Girls – Statement (April 20, 2020).
- UN Working Group on discrimination against women and girls, Responses to the Covid-19 Could Exacerbate Pre-existing and Deeply Entrenched Discrimination Against Women and Girls, Say UN Experts (April 20, 2020).
- UNICEF, Five Actions for Gender Equality in the COVID-19 Response (2020).Women Deliver, Women Deliver’s Ten Recommendations to Build Back a Stronger, More Gender-Equal World (May 7, 2020).
- UN Women, A Primer for Parliamentary Action: Gender-Sensitive Responses to COVID-19 (June 2020).
Indigenous rights are neglected at the best of times, then little wonder that COVID-19’s impact has been all the more severe during these worst of times. No one should be left behind during the current crisis, least of all the rights of Indigenous women and girls.
- Organization of American States, Statement from the OAS General Secretariat on the Situation of Indigenous Peoples During the COVID-19 Crisis (April 3, 2020).
- The Regional Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) Working Group, COVID-19: How to Include Marginalized and Vulnerable People in Risk Communication and Community Engagement (March 2020).
- UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, The Impact of COVID-19 on Indigenous Peoples (May 8, 2020).
- UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Indigenous Peoples & the Covid-19 Pandemic: Considerations (April 2020).
- UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, COVID-19 Yet Another Challenge for Indigenous Peoples (April 6, 2020).
- UN Food and Agricultural Organization, Indigenous Peoples’ Health and Safety at Risk Due to Coronavirus (COVID-19) (March 27, 2020). [French]
- UN Inter-Agency Support Group on Indigenous Issues, Indigenous Peoples and COVID-19: A Guidance Note for the UN System (April 23, 2020).
- UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, COVID-19 Guidance (by topic).
- UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, Message from the Chair of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues to Ensure Indigenous Peoples are Informed, Protected and Prioritized During the Global Covid-19 Pandemic (April 2020). [French]
- UN Special Rapporteur on Indigenous Peoples, Coronavirus Impact on World’s Indigenous, Goes Well Beyond Health Threat (May 18, 2020). [French]
- UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Development, Leave No One Behind: Don’t Forget Your Commitments in Your Response to the COVID-19 Crises, UN Expert Urges States (April 9, 2020).
- Kaitlin Curtis & Esther Choo, Indigenous Populations: Left Behind in the COVID-19 Response (The Lancet, June 6, 2020).
- ILO, COVID-19 and the World of Work: A Focus on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples (May 2020).
- PAHO & WHO, Considerations on Indigenous Peoples, Afro-Descendants, and Other Ethnic Groups During the COVID-19 Pandemic (June 4, 2020).
Domestic violence has surged among Indigenous communities, impacting most heavily on women, youth, and gender-diverse people.
- Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, The IACHR Calls on Member States to Adopt a Gender Perspective in the Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic and to Combat Sexual and Domestic Violence in this Context (April 11, 2020).
- Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Protection from Domestic Violence Urgently Needed for Women and Children Under Stay-at-Home Orders, Say OSCE Officials (April 2, 2020).
- The Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action, Covid-19: Protecting Children from Violence, Abuse, and Neglect in the Home (May 4, 2020).
- The Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action, Protection of Children During the COVID-19 Pandemic (other resources in toolkit).
- UNDP, Gender-based Violence and COVID-19 (May 11, 2020).
- UNICEF, Five Ways Governments Are Responding to Violence Against Women and Children During COVID-19 (April 8, 2020).
- UN Office of the High Commissioner, UN Experts Call for Urgent Action to Mitigate Heightened Risks of Violence Against Children (April 7, 2020). [French]
- UN Office on Drugs and Crime, Video – Violence Against Women in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic (April 9, 2020).
- UN Office on Drugs and Crime, Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Response – UNODC Thematic Brief on Gender-based Violence Against Women and Girls (April 7, 2020).
- UN Women, COVID-19 and Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (April 2020).
- UN Women, From Where I Stand: “Stay Home and Stay Safe—But What If Home Is Where She Feels Unsafe?” (April 30, 2020).
- UN Women & WHO, Violence Against Women and Girls Data Collection During COVID-19 (April 17,2020).
- UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences, States Must Combat Domestic Violence in the Context of COVID-19 Lockdowns – UN Rights Expert (March 27, 2020).
- World Health Organization, COVID-19 and Violence Against Women: What the Health Sector/System Can Do (April 7, 2020).
The COVID-19 pandemic has put Indigenous women in detention at increased risk and under immense stress. Emerging best international practice offers an abundance of advice to detaining authorities on how to respond to this new reality.
- Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture, Statement of Principles Relating to the Treatment of Persons Deprived of Their Liberty in the Context of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Pandemic (March 20, 2020). [French]
- Dignity – Danish Institute Against Torture, Synthesis – Global Guidance and Recommendations on How to Prevent and Manage COVID-19 in Prisons (March 26, 2020). [French]
- Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Urgent Action Needed to Prevent COVID-19 “Rampaging Through Places of Detention” – Bachelet, with a related video (March 25, 2020). [French]
- Penal Reform International, Coronavirus: Healthcare and Human Rights of People in Prison (March 16, 2020).
- The Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action, Covid-19 and Children Deprived of Their Liberty (April 8, 2020). [French]
- UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture, Advice of the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture to States Parties and National Preventive Mechanisms relating to the Coronavirus Pandemic (March 25, 2020).
- UNICEF & The Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action, Technical Note: COVID-19 and Children Deprived of their Liberty (April 14, 2020).
- UN Office on Drugs and Crime, Protecting Children Deprived of Liberty During the Covid-19 Outbreak (April 14, 2020).
- UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, Deliberation No. 11 on Prevention of Arbitrary Deprivation of Liberty in the Context of Public Health Emergencies – UN Expert Group on Arbitrary Detention (May 8, 2020).
- World Health Organization, Preparedness, Prevention and Control of COVID-19 in Prisons and Other Places of Detention (March 30, 2020). [overview in French]
- World Health Organization, UNODC, WHO, UNAIDS, and OHCHR: Joint Statement on COVID-19 in Prisons and Other Closed Settings (May 13, 2020).
- OSCE-ODIHR & APT, Guidance: Monitoring Places of Detention through the COVID-19 Pandemic (June 2, 2020).
- Dignity – The Danish Institute Against Torture, Reducing Overcrowding in Pre-Trial Detention and Prison in the Context of COVID-19:Increasing the Use of Non-Custodial Measures (June 23, 2020).
- OHCHR, COVID-19 Has Exacerbated the Historical Neglect of Dignified Mental Health Care, Especially for Those in Institutions: UN Expert (June 23, 2020).
The physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health of Indigenous communities has been impacted by COVID-19. Measures should be taken to protect the right to health of Indigenous women and girls in accordance with best practice.
- UN, Policy Brief: COVID-19 and the Need for Action on Mental Health (May 13, 2020).
- UN, No Exceptions with COVID-19: “Everyone Has the Right to Life-saving Interventions” – UN Experts Say (March 26, 2020).
- UN, various agencies, Disability Inclusive Social Protection Response to Covid-19 Crisis (April 2020).
- UN Food and Agriculture Organization, Indigenous Peoples’ Health and Safety at Risk due to Coronavirus (COVID-19). [French]
- UN News, UNFPA Advocates for Women, Girls Suffering Unseen Impacts of COVID-19 Pandemic (March 27, 2020).
- UN News, COVID-19 Highlights Nurses’ Vulnerability as Backbone to Health Services Worldwide (April 7, 2020).
- UN News, COVID-19: Mental Health in the Age of Coronavirus (March 16, 2020).
- UN Office on Drugs and Crime, Suggestions about Treatment, Care and Rehabilitation of People with Drug Use Disorder in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic (March 28, 2020).
- UN Population Fund, Technical Brief. COVID-19: A Gender Lens – Protecting Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, and Promoting Gender Equality (March 2020). [French]
- UN Population Fund, As COVID-19 Continues to Spread, Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women Advised to Take Precautions (March 5, 2020). [French]
- UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities, COVID-19: Who Is Protecting the People with Disabilities? – UN Rights Expert (March 17, 2020).
- UN Women, Paying Attention to Women’s Needs and Leadership Will Strengthen COVID-19 Response (March 19, 2020). [French]
- OHCHR, COVID-19 Measures Must Be Grounded First and Foremost on the Right to Health (June 10, 2020).
COVID-19 has been economically ruinous for numerous Indigenous communities, many of which were previously labouring under considerable stress. In these trying economic and social conditions, the challenge of ensuring water and food security is essential for the well-being of Indigenous women and their families.
- FIAN International, Impact of COVID-19 on the Human Right to Food and Nutrition: Preliminary Monitoring Report (April 27, 2020).
- UN Food and Agriculture Organization, Q&A: COVID-19 Pandemic – Impact on Food and Agriculture. [French]
- UN Food and Agriculture Organization, Addressing Inequality in Times of COVID-19 (April 28, 2020).
- UN Food and Agriculture Organization, Maintaining a Healthy Diet During the COVID-19 Pandemic (March 27, 2020).
- UN Food and Agriculture Organization, COVID-19 and the Risk to Food Supply Chains: How to Respond? (March 29, 2020).
- UN News, Water Access Critical to Beating Back COVID-19 Spread in Slum Areas (March 23, 2020).
- UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, COVID-19 Guidance (by topic).
- UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, COVID-19 Will Not be Stopped Without Providing Safe Water to People Living in Vulnerability – UN Experts (March 23, 2020).
- UN Special Rapporteur in the human rights to water and sanitation, Gender Identity and the Human Rights to Water and Sanitation (compilation) (April 2020).
- UN Special Rapporteur in the human rights to water and sanitation, COVID-19 and the Human Rights to Water and Sanitation (video). [French]
- World Food Programme, How to Minimize the Impact of Coronavirus on Food Security (March 16, 2020).
- World Food Programme, COVID-19: Potential Impact on the World’s Poorest People (April 8, 2020).
The right to housing is deeply anchored in international human rights law and represents a frontline defence against the COVID-19 outbreak. The financial fallout and related poverty resulting from the current pandemic are not grounds for home evictions or house repossessions.
- Human Rights Watch, In the Pandemic, Millions of People Could Lose Their Homes (May 12, 2020).
- Office of the High Commissioner for Huma Rights, “Housing, the Front Line Defence Against the COVID-19 Outbreak,” Says UN Expert (March 18, 2020).
- UN Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing, Ban All Evictions Everywhere — COVID19 (March 21, 2020).
- UN Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing, COVID-19 Guidance Note: Prohibition of Evictions (April 28, 2020). Watch a related video.
- UN Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing, COVID-19 Guidance Note: Protecting Those Living in Homelessness (April 28, 2020). Watch a related video.
- UN Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing, COVID-19 Guidance Note: Protecting Renters and Mortgage Payers (April 8, 2020). Watch a related video.
- UN Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing, COVID-19 Guidance Note: Protecting Housing from Financialization and Building Back a Better Future (April 28, 2020).
- UN Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing, Adequate Housing as a Component of the Right to an Adequate Standard of Living, and the Right to Non-discrimination in this Context (July 17, 2019).
- UN Habitat, Key Messages: COVID and Informal Settlements (March 2020). [French]
- UN Habitat, UN-Habitat’s Key Messages on COVID-19 and Housing (April 7, 2020). [French]
- UN Habitat, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in Informal Settlements and COVID-19 (May 13, 2020). [French]
- UN Habitat, Housing is Both a Prevention & Cure for COVID-19 (May 13, 2020).
- UN Habitat, Gender and COVID-19 (May 26, 2020).
- OHCHR, World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 15 June 2020: Verbal and Online Abuse Violating Human Rights of Older Persons Must Be Stamped Out – UN Expert (June 12, 2020).
- UN Human Rights / Special Procedures, ASPIRE Guidelines on COVID-19 Response Free from Violence and Discrimination based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (June 19, 2020).
Whether we are Indigenous or not, male or female, young or old, disabled or able-bodied, we are all in this together. Everyone’s rights must be protected during the current global health emergency.
- Committee on the Rights of the Child, CRC Warns of the Grave Physical, Emotional and Psychological Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Children and Calls on States to Protect the Rights of Children (April 8, 2020).
- UN, COVID-19 and Human Rights: We Are All in this Together (April 23, 2020).
- UN, Policy Brief: The Impact of Covid-19 on Older Persons (May 1, 2020).
- UN, Policy Brief: A Disability-Inclusive Response to COVID-19 (May 6, 2020).
- UN, United Nations Guidance Note on Addressing and Countering COVID-19 related Hate Speech (May 11, 2020).
- UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Virtual Debate “Human Rights of Older Persons in the Age of COVID-19 and Beyond” with the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the New Independent Expert on the Enjoyment of all Human Rights by Older Persons – Statement by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet (May 12, 2020).
- OHCHR, Statement on COVID-19 and the Human Rights of Persons with Disabilities (June 9, 2020).
