WHAT RECOMMENDATIONS CAN WE MAKE AS COVID-19 IMPACTS ON AFRICAN AND AFRICAN DIASPORA COMMUNITIES GLOBALLY ?
According to John Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Centre, countries within the UN OHCHR Region of Europe, Central Asia and North America are amongst those with the highest case fatality rates for novel coronavirus, which reflects the number of deaths in a population divided by the number of confirmed cases. Notably Belgium (13.4%), Italy (13%) and the UK (12.8%) had the highest mortality rates in April 2020. Moreover, Afrikan communities are statistically shown to be disproportionately affected. For example, In New York which is deemed to be the epicentre of the global pandemic, of 90 % state-wide reporting, 18 % of deaths have been Black people, who account for only 9 % of the state’s population. In New York City with 65% reporting, 28 % of deaths have been Black people, who account for 22 % of the urbanism’s population, (Cineas, 2020). In Illinois, Black people were 42 % of fatalities but are only 14.6 % of the state’s population; whilst in the city of Chicago, we represent approximately 70 % fatalities and more than 50 % of cases but are approximately 30 % of the urbanism’s total population” (Cineas, 2020). Similarly, the mortality rate for Black people in Louisiana was more than 70 %, whereas the state population is approximately 33 % PAD.
UK statistics also highlight disproportionately high COVID-19 infection rates amongst Black people in British urbanisms with sizeable Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) populations, such as Birmingham and the London Borough of Brent. “The issue of race is (therefore) central to tackling the virus and without a purposeful, intersectional approach centring on BAME communities, the current outbreak will lead to severe consequences and further entrench racial inequalities” (BSWN, 2020). In that regard, the International Coalition of People of African Descent (ICPAD) facilitated knowledge exchange on the impact of the deadly coronavirus pandemic on Afrikan communities globally. These narratives give agency to invisible Afrikan communities, that enables IDPAD’s achievements and challenges to be shared and amplified across different structures and processes, e.g. with reference to the International Convention for the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) 1965, and Durban Declaration and Plan of Action (DDPA) 2001. See the USA Office of Federal Contract Compliance webpages on how to file a complaint against employers doing business with the Federal Government. How to File a Complaint | U.S. Department of Labor (dol.gov)
Shared Experiences of COVID-19 in African and African American Communities
| Africa & COVID-19 Webinar Series | May 13, 2020
Watch the webinar here https://vimeo.com/418187232
Speakers include
Dr. John Nkengasong, Director, Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Professor Evelynn Hammonds, Chair, Department of the History of Science & Barbara Gutmann Rosenkrantz Professor of the History of Science at Harvard University
Professor David Williams, Florence & Laura Norman Professor of Public Health & Chair, Department of Social & Behavioral Sciences at Harvard University
Moderated by: Professor Emmanuel Akyeampong, Oppenheimer Faculty Director of the Harvard Center for African Studies & Ellen Gurney Professor of History and of African and African American Studies
FOLLOW UP : UNESCO REGIONAL EXPERT CONSULTATIONS AGAINST RACISM & DISCRIMINATIONS launched on 18 September 2020 . The Concept note is attached below.
Recovering Better: economic and social challenges and opportunities A compilation of the High-level Advisory Board on Economic and Social Affairs
A report published by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs copyright UN 2020
United Nations Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights: In this report, submitted in response to resolution 44/13 of the Human Rights Council, the Special Rapporteur argues that the world was ill-equipped to deal with the socioeconomic impacts of this pandemic because it never recovered from the austerity measures imposed in the aftermath of the global financial crisis of 2008-2011. The legacy of austerity measures is severely underfunded public healthcare systems, undervalued and precarious care work, sustained declines in global labo ur income shares, and high inequality rates coupled with average decreases in statutory corporate tax rates. With public services in dire straits, one -off cash transfers are a drop in the bucket for people living in poverty, whether in developed, developing, or least developed countries (...) This report identifies eight challenges that must be addressed in order to bring social protection in line with human rights standards. In total, over 1,400 social protection measures have been adopted by 208 jurisdictions to cushion the shock. While a remarkable number in itself, the intended beneficiaries of these schemes must often face systemic obstacle courses to access them. Many of the programs are short-term, temporary measures, that either are being phased out, or can only be renewed through parliamentary processes with uncertain outcomes. Many provide allowances that are grossly insufficient to guarantee an adequate standard of living. Although some schemes have been designed to cover workers in the informal sector and in precarious forms of employment (respectively 1.6 billion and 0.4 billion worldwide, both categories representing 61.2% of the global workforce), many are inattentive to the realities of the different groups that make up this category of workers. Migrants, especially undocumented migrants, often are not covered. Indigenous Peoples, despite being overrepresented among people in poverty, remain invisible to public databases and face distinct obstacles in accessing benefits. Many schemes are not gender-sensitive because they do not take into account the fact that women are overrepresented among part-time workers and workers in precarious employment, as well as among workers with an interrupted career, and that women shoulder the burden when schools close or when the healthcare sector is overwhelmed.
Many schemes also require forms to be completed online, which de facto excludes large groups of the population who have no internet access or have little digital literacy. Finally, although transparency and participation should ensure that schemes are designed and implemented effectively and reach those who are most in need of support, and although access to independent claims mechanism are essential to reduce the risks of exclusion, these human rights principles have almost systematically been disregarded in the name of expediency. In sum, impressive though the reaction has been considering the number of measures adopted, States have been taken off-guard.
Now is the time to rebuild. The international community must prove that it learned from the mistakes of the 2008-2011 global financial crisis to avoid ending up more fragile than when it started. Equitable financing, one of the main themes of the Call to Action of the Global Partnership for Universal Social Protection (USP2030), should therefore be at the heart of States’ answer to this crisis in order to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past: this is essential to ensure “universality of protection, based on social solidarity,” as pledged in the Social Protection Floors Recommendation No. 202. Fiscal support to emissionsintensive firms contributing to climate change must also be conditional on clear plans for a transition towards zero emissions. The design and implementation of social protection policies, and any conditionalities attached to allowances, must be transparent, consider the voices of people in poverty, and include oversight mechanisms that allow populations to hold their governments to account. Building social protection systems on the basis of human rights can significantly contribute to their effectiveness in eradicating poverty and in reducing inequalities, thus improving resilience of societies in the face of shocks. This means defining socia l protection neither as an emergency response to a situation of crisis, nor as charity – but rather as a set of permanent entitlements prescribed by domestic legislation, defining individuals as rights-holders, and guaranteeing them access to independent claims mechanisms if they are denied the benefits for which they qualify. Both the mobilization of domestic resources and international solidarity should be placed in the service of this objective.
SDG 1 - COVID -19 Report of the UN Special Rapporteur on Poverty & human rights contd:
The press release is available:
The full report is attached here and available at: https://bit.ly/2Fix7xx
The executive summary (also attached) is available at:
UNESCO SMS Webinar Series: Racial Equality & Inclusion in Cities
The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated inequalities, discrimination and marginalisation in cities. In this webinar, ICCAR and the OECD Champion Mayors Initiative explored how cities are leading the way in fighting discrimination and exclusion in a post-COVID-19 world.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-P9_66MScQ
UWE BRISTOL HEALTH AND APPLIED SCIENCES DEPARTMENT NEWSLETTER.
BRIEF ON PARTICIPATION IN BRISTOL’S SDG ALLIANCE DURING COVID-19 LOCKDOWN
25 September 2020
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development can be described as an international framework to address social, economic and environmental challenges faced by people and planet. The 2030 Agenda includes seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), e.g. to reduce poverty (SDG 1), improve food security (SDG 2), and better health outcomes (SDG 3). Each SDG requires a number of targets to be successfully implemented. For example, achievement of SDG 10 to reduce inequality within or between countries, requires implementation of SDG Target 10.3. Stakeholders must “ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies and action in this regard.” SDG indicators monitor implementation of SDG Targets, e.g. SDG 10.3.1 monitors “the proportion of the population reporting having personally felt discriminated against or harassed within the previous 12 months on the basis of a ground of discrimination prohibited under international human rights law.”
Members of the African diaspora are disproportionately over-represented in the urbanism’s criminal justice and mental health systems, whereas we achieve disproportionately poorer outcomes in educational attainment, employment and leadership roles than other ethnicities. This illustrates breaches of the International Convention for the Elimination of All for of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) 1965. Bristol’s SDG Alliance includes social entrepreneurs such as African Voices Forum (AVF) which represents the urbanism’s African diaspora communities, as well as UWE Bristol, the City Office and other stakeholders. I have represented the AVF’s Board in Bristol’s SDG Alliance since 2019, to advocate race equality through inclusive democratic community involvement in implementing the 2030 Agenda. In that regard, the city’s Voluntary Local Review (VLR) provides guidelines for implementing SDGs and received accolades for its exemplary approach to sustainable development of urbanisms prior to the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic earlier this year.
During lockdown the City Office first advised the SDG Alliance of the Mayor and his administration’s claim to put SDGs at the heart of Bristol’s post-COVID-19 recovery plan through it’s One City Approach, in May 2020. The Alliance advised SDG 10 and SDG 16 are important to demonstrate Bristol is exemplar in equitable broad reaching implementation of the 2030 Agenda. Members of the Alliance were impacted in various ways by the lockdown, with some such as AVF showing dynamism and resilience in adapting strategies to serve local communities. Notably, AVF ALAM Project held an online event on climate change, and the social enterprise also published a fortnightly COVID-19 newsletter at the height of lockdown.
I represented AVF on a Governance sub-committee of the SDG Alliance that participated in online meetings and discussion around the Alliance’s future governance, given social and economic threats posed by COVID-19. It was agreed the SDG Alliance’s future objectives should include driving policy framework, connecting different sectors, increasing awareness and best practice, and multi-level governance. The Governance Sub-committee distributed agreed future Objectives, Terms of Reference, Purpose, and ideas for Funding to the other SDG Alliance members prior to a Bristol SDG Alliance Zoom meeting that I chaired on 10 September 2020. These proposals were discussed in Breakout rooms during the meeting, and subsequently approved in an extra-ordinary SDG Alliance Governance meeting on 24 September 2020, with a few amendments to be agreed.
EXTRACTS FROM THE UN HIGH LEVEL POLITICAL FORUM: Cities as bridges between SDGs and citizens in a post-COVID World 15 July 2020
Stefano Bonacini, Italy
Collaboration and cooperation in accordance with the 2030 Agenda is required to achieve CMR.
The populistic approach adopted by some European leaders has led to their communities being the ones that suffer more than others from covid-19 infection and fatality rates.
Environmental sustainability is key where the 2030 Agenda objectives become everyone’s objectives as goals.
A dramatic economic crisis lies ahead of us which will require a lot of public investment; sustainability will have to be at the core of post covid-19 recovery plans.
Edwin Mino-Foro Regiones
LRGs need to be at the fore for leadership, e.g. by decentralising by building from local government for accountability and multilevel governance.
Vasa Gounden – Civil society
The theatre of conflict will move to urban areas in competition for scarce resources. Both the health and economic crises will precipitate a security crisis which will in turn precipitate a humanitarian crisis.
SDGs are meant to deal with root causes, and implementation places the state party as a conducive driver for development and lead player with other stakeholders, to deal with poverty, inequality and unemployment.
Local and national interests are therefore necessary to address global challenges through global responsibility.
Carla Rey
Emilia Suiz – Secretary General for Local Government and Cities
Basic service provision by public bodies is linked with SDGs intrinsically.
Global solutions must be based on aspirations and needs of local authorities.
The SDG Framework is a valid framework to address the challenge of building bridges as cities for post covid-19 recovery.
Solidarity is not just about doing the right thing, it is a necessity. Subsidiarity is about thinking local, and acting global when doing things in our local communities.
Extracts from UNESCO Series of Regional Experts Consultation against Racism & Discriminations
- Europe & North America
Concept Note & Extracts from UNESCO Series of Regional Experts Consultation against Racism & Discriminations -Africa
INTERNATIONAL YEAR FOR THE ELIMINATION OF CHILD LABOUR
COVID -19 has forced more children into work reversing progress made reducing child labour, and increasing inequalities within and between countries, e.g. more girls are being forced into marriage. It is alleged that African countries account for more child labour than the rest of the World combined; e.g. children in Ivory Coast and Ghana working on cocoa farms have never eaten chocolate, and there are Brazilian children picking oranges who are not allowed to eat one.
- The ILO and UNICEF report 160 million children are today engaged in child labour which is the first increase since data started to be collected.
-7% of children worldwide go to work rather than school or play.
- Approximately 1 in 10 children are engaged in child labour, 35 % of whom are between 12 and 14 years
- SDG Target 8.7 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development must be translated into concrete actions to make child labour history by 2025, and as a part of building back better post COVID-19.
See https://youtu.be/djQwr1xjjeU
INTERNATIONAL YEAR FOR THE ELIMINATION OF CHILD LABOUR
COVID -19 has forced more children into work reversing progress made reducing child labour, and increasing inequalities within and between countries, e.g. more girls are being forced into marriage. It is alleged that African countries account for more child labour than the rest of the World combined; e.g. children in Ivory Coast and Ghana working on cocoa farms have never eaten chocolate, and there are Brazilian children picking oranges who are not allowed to eat one.
- The ILO and UNICEF report 160 million children are today engaged in child labour which is the first increase since data started to be collected.
-7% of children worldwide go to work rather than school or play.
- Approximately 1 in 10 children are engaged in child labour, 35 % of whom are between 12 and 14 years
- SDG Target 8.7 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development must be translated into concrete actions to make child labour history by 2025, and as a part of building back better post COVID-19.
See https://youtu.be/djQwr1xjjeU
FORWARDED: Dear all,
We have the pleasure to inform you that the Call for Application for the 2021 OHCHR Fellowship Programme for people of African descent is now open!
Every year, the Anti-Racial Discrimination Section of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) invites young activists of African descent to take part in the Fellowship Programme. This year the Fellowship will be held from 15 November to 3 December 2021. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the three-week training will be held online this year.
The Fellowship Programme provides the participants with an intensive learning opportunity to deepen their understanding of the United Nations human rights system, instruments and mechanisms, with a focus on issues of particular relevance to people of African descent. The Fellowship Programme will allow the participants to better contribute to the protection and promotion of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of people of African descent in their respective countries.
The deadline for application is 5 July 2021. Applications can be submitted in English, French, and Spanish. For more information on the Fellowship programme and how to apply: English - Français - Español
Please circulate widely!
Thank you in advance and kind regards,
OHCHR/Anti-Racial Discrimination Section
Note: Kindly note that you are receiving this email because you shared your email address with the Anti-Racial Discrimination section. If you wish not to receive other emails from us, please inform us by sending an email at africandescentfellowship@ohchr.org.
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Cher-e-s toutes et tous,
Nous avons le plaisir de vous informer que l’appel à candidature pour le Programme de bourses pour les personnes d’ascendance africaine est ouvert !
Chaque année, la Section pour la Lutte contre les Discriminations Raciales du Haut-Commissariat des Nations Unies aux droits de l’homme (HCDH) invite de jeunes activistes d’ascendance africaine à participer à ce Programme de bourses. Cette année, le programme se déroulera du 15 novembre au 3 décembre 2021. En raison de l'épidémie de Coronavirus, les trois semaines de formation seront dispensées en ligne cette année.
Le Programme de bourses offre aux participants une formation intensive pour approfondir leur compréhension du système des Nations Unies pour les droits de l’homme et de ses instruments et mécanismes, avec une attention particulière portée aux enjeux qui affectent les personnes d’ascendance africaine. Le programme offre aux participants l’opportunité de renforcer les capacités des participant-e-s à contribuer à la protection et la promotion des droits civils, politiques, économiques, sociaux et culturels des personnes d’ascendance africaine dans leurs pays respectifs.
La date limite de candidature est le 5 juillet 2021. Les candidatures peuvent être soumises en français, anglais et espagnol. Pour plus d’informations sur le Programme de bourses et comment postuler : English - Français - Español
Merci de faire circuler l’information le plus largement possible!
Sincères salutations,
L’équipe ARDS.
Note : Veillez noter que vous recevez cet email car vous avez partagé votre adresse email avec la section pour la Lutte contre les Discriminations Raciales. Si vous ne souhaitez plus recevoir de messages de notre part, merci de nous en informer en nous écrivant à : africandescentfellowship@ohchr.org.
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Queridos todos y todas,
Las postulaciones para la Programa de becas para personas afrodescendientes 2021 estan abiertas !
En 2021, la Programa se celebrará del 15 de noviembre al 3 de diciembre. Debido a la pandemia de COVID-19, este año la formación de tres semanas se impartirá en línea.
El Programa de becas para afrodescendientes es un curso intensivo de tres semanas de duración que ofrece a los descendientes de la diáspora africana una oportunidad de aprendizaje a fin de mejorar su labor de promoción de los derechos de sus comunidades.
El programa ofrece a los participantes la oportunidad de ampliar sus conocimientos y su comprensión del derecho internacional de los derechos humanos y del sistema de derechos humanos de las Naciones Unidas, con especial atención a las personas afrodescendientes. El programa se propone fortalecer las competencias de los participantes para que puedan contribuir a la protección y promoción de los derechos civiles, políticos, económicos, sociales y culturales de los afrodescendientes en sus respectivos países.
La fecha límite para postular es 5 de julio de 2021. Se puede postular en español, francés e inglés. Para obtener más información : English - Français - Español
Saludos cordiales,
OHCHR/Anti-Racial Discrimination Section
Nota: Está recibiendo este correo electrónico porque ha compartido su dirección de correo electrónico con la Sección de Lucha contra la Discriminación Racial. Si no desea seguir recibiendo mensajes nuestros, comuníquenoslo enviando un correo electrónico a: africandescentfellowship@ohchr.org.
On June 29th, 2021, the UN Special Rapporteur on Poverty & Human Rights, Olivier De Schutter will present his new report, “Global fund for social protection: international solidarity in the service of poverty eradication” to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.You can watch the proceedings Live: The Global Fund for Social Protection at the UN Human Rights Council – 29 June 3pm CET - Extreme Poverty and Human Rights (srpoverty.org)
On November 18, 2021 the Coalition for Religious Equality and Inclusive Development (CREID) launched its Report on Understanding Intersecting Vulnerabilities Experienced by Religious Minorities Living in Poverty in the Shadows of Covid-19 – CREID including a policy brief on Vulnerability and Poverty During Covid-19: Religious Minorities in Nigeria – CREID.
The Report highlights lessons can be learnt from the Global South on the impact of the covid-19 pandemic on religious and other sub-cultural minorities, and the reilience of affected communities.
This study, conducted during the Covid-19 pandemic between November 2020 and March 2021 in India and Nigeria, explored the direct and indirect effects of Covid-19 on religiously marginalised groups experiencing intersecting vulnerabilities.
The findings provide recognition of the impact of Covid-19 on targeting and encroachments faced by these groups in order to inform policy so that it includes their perspectives in building back better and promoting inclusive development. Policymakers need to understand both the direct and indirect impacts of Covid-19 in order to coordinate effective support and avert deepening marginalisation.
This research demonstrates how religious inequalities intersect with other inequalities of power – historical, structural, and socially determined characteristics (class, ethnicity, caste, gender, age) – to shape how people experience the Covid-19 pandemic. Both India and Nigeria manifest high levels of authoritarianism, an absence of press freedom, targeting of religiously marginalised groups, and unequal access to public services and the protection of the state by religiously marginalised groups, according to geographic location.
The findings of this report reveal the appalling everyday realities as well as the great courage of religious minorities living in poverty during the pandemic. Greater sensitivity to the critical intersection of vulnerabilities is essential for the longer-term recovery of these groups, who otherwise face slipping deeper into intergenerational poverty. Deepening poverty and proliferating ethno-religious injustices are fuelling tensions and conflict, and the risks of neglecting these issues are immense.
See also
General Conference : 41st session | UNESCO
5th UNESCO Forum on transformative education for sustainable development, global citizenship, health and well-being
Underemployed, underestimated: Windsor's Black men find allies to fight joblessness | CBC News
For a Combative Decoloniality Sixty Years after Fanon’s Death: an invitation from the Frantz Fanon Foundation (fondation-frantzfanon.com)
Fondation Hirondelle is a Swiss non-profit organization founded in 1995 - Fondation Hirondelle - Media for Peace and Human Dignity - Hirondelle.org
Oil and war crimes: Swedish justice in the front line - JusticeInfo.net