The impact of COVID-19 on vulnerable groups

San José, Costa Rica, June 26, 2020

As part of the Series of Inter-American Conferences organized by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, the Webinar on The impact of COVID-19 on vulnerable groups, was held today.

Judge Humberto Antonio Sierra Porto led the Panel and at the opening pointed out the importance of remembering that during this COVID-19 pandemic "in addition to the fatalities, there are those people whose rights have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic. Women and girls who face violence within their homes. Older adults discriminated against in accessing health or lacking basic income. Boys and girls whose right to education is truncated. Migrants who, even before the pandemic, could not obtain medical care or are confined in overcrowded detention centers,” Judge Sierra highlighted.

In turn, he mentioned other groups that are vulnerable in terms of their human rights in the face of this situation, especially “LGBTI people who suffer violence and discrimination in an aggravated manner. Afro-descendant populations and indigenous peoples that historically and structurally have been segregated and today suffer disproportionately from the consequences. Persons with disabilities whose protection and guarantee of rights is not taken as a priority in the context of the emergency. Human rights defenders who put their lives and safety at risk to contribute to the rule of law and democracy. I must also acknowledge healthcare personnel. Women and men with a vocation for service and dedication who are on the front line every day helping to realize the right to health, caring for people's lives”, said the Judge of the Inter-American Court.

The Seminar Panel brought together a large group of international experts who, from a multidimensional approach, led an exchange on the situation of various vulnerable groups of the population in this pandemic:

1. ''Rights of people in a situation of migration in the framework of COVID-19'', Edgar Corzo Sosa, Independent Expert for the UN Committee of the Convention on the Rights of All Migrant Workers and their Families.
2. ‘‘Impact on the elderly”, Julissa Mantilla, Rapporteur on the Rights of the Elderly at the IACHR.
3. ‘‘Impact on LGBTI people’’, Victor Madrigal-Borloz, United Nations Independent Expert on sexual orientation and gender identity.
4. ''Persons with disabilities and COVID-19'', Catalina Devandas, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities.
5. ‘‘Tarcila Rivera Zea, Continental Coordinator of the Continental Network of Indigenous Women of the Americas (ECMIA) and former member of the UN Permanent Forum for Indigenous Peoples.
6. ''Impact of COVID-19 on the rights of people of African descent'', Edwin Salcedo, General Director of the District Racial Anti-Discrimination Observatory of Cartagena, Colombia.
7. ''Human rights defenders in the context of COVID-19'', Viviana Krsticevic, Director, CEJIL.
8. ''Impact of COVID-19 on children'', Paula Robledo, Delegate Advocate for Constitutional Affairs, Colombia.
9. ''From the front line of the battle against COVID-19: The view from the field'', Maria Cecilia Herrera, Specialist in International Human Rights Law.

There are already more than 15,000 participants in the Inter-American Conferences Series developed by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.

The Conference recording can be found at the following link:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goE3-aOBUv8&feature=youtu.be