COVID-19 Guidance from Supranational Human Rights Bodies

This webpage collects the resolutions, press releases, and other statements from human rights bodies and their parent intergovernmental organizations on States’ obligations to respect human rights in mitigating COVID-19. The “Thematic Overview” section organizes the most significant of these statements by issue area.

Statements are then organized by body or organization, beginning with United Nations entities and then regional human rights bodies. Within those sections, statements are listed chronologically. Note that joint statements are listed under each co-authoring entity. For human rights bodies only (that is, not intergovernmental organizations or their agencies), we have also included statements that address procedural changes and other adjustments in these bodies’ functioning, in the section for each body.

IJRC staff have separately summarized and responded to the proliferation of human rights guidance on COVID-19 in an article for Just Security, and reviewed the pandemic’s impact (and opportunities) with regard to human rights oversight on OpenGlobalRights. Note that IJRC’s monthly session posts and calendar provide updates on the sessions, hearings, and other activities of human rights bodies. As of September 2021, many UN human rights bodies began resuming in-person activities (although with limited access, particularly for civil society), while the regional mechanisms have largely continued to hold hearings and sessions virtually.

Last updated: October 27, 2021

Contents

Acronyms
Thematic Overview
United Nations
African Human Rights System
Inter-American Human Rights System
European Human Rights System
Southeast Asia
Middle East and North Africa
- Arab Human Rights Committee
- League of Arab States

Acronyms

The acronyms below are used on this page to refer to regional and universal human rights bodies and intergovernmental organizations. For more information on the body, click on the link (where available) to access the relevant IJRC Online Resource Hub page.

ACERWC: African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child
ACHPR: African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights
AfCHPR: African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights
AICHR: ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights
ASEAN: Association of Southeast Asian Nations
AU: African Union
CEDAW: Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women
CESCR: Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
CIM: Inter-American Commission of Women
COE: Council of Europe
ECtHR: European Court of Human Rights
ECSR: European Committee of Social Rights
ECRI: European Commission against Racism and Intolerance
FRA: European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights
GRECO: Group of States against Corruption
GRETA: Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings
GREVIO: Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women
IACHR: Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
IACtHR: Inter-American Court of Human Rights
ILO: International Labour Organization
IOM: International Organization for Migration
MESECVI: Follow-up Mechanism to the Belém do Pará Convention
OAS: Organization of American States
ODIHR: OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights
OHCHR: Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
OSCE: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
SPT: Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture
UN: United Nations
WGAD: Working Group on Arbitrary Detention

Thematic Overview

The summaries and links below reference statements, resolutions, and policy guidance issued by human rights bodies with regard to particular themes. They include the most in-depth and relevant documents; they do not include every press release on those topics, and generally exclude statements focused on only one country.

General duties and considerations

The ACHPR, AICHR, IACHR (and here), IACtHR, Organization of American States (OAS), Secretary General of the Council of Europe (COE), COE Commissioner for Human Rights, UN human rights treaty bodies, and UN Secretary-General have all issued general statements or guidance on respecting human rights in responding to COVID-19. These documents cover most of the sub-topics below, but will not be listed again under those sections.

States of emergency and exception

The IACHR, the COE, Secretary General of the COE, UN Human Rights Committee, various UN special procedure mandate holders, and OHCHR have outlined States’ responsibilities to ensure that declared states of emergency comply with human rights obligations, properly notify any derogations from their human rights treaty obligations, and to avoid using emergency measures to infringe human rights. The COE Venice Commission reiterated the standards for declaring states of emergency.

The IACtHR released two jurisprudence compilations, on use of force and suspension of human rights, in April 2020 (Spanish only).

UN special procedure mandate holders have warned Uganda not to use emergency powers to infringe the human rights of LGBT persons, and cautioned Venezuela not to use the crisis to attack human rights defenders.

Right to protection of health

The IACHR, European Committee of Social Rights, COE Commissioner for Human Rights, COE Committee on Bioethics, many UN special procedure mandate holders (jointly) called on States to guarantee the right to health and maintain respect for human rights in healthcare decisions. The OHCHR has published specific guidance on access to vaccines, and the CESCR issued a statement on the same topic. The UN Special Rapporteur on the right to health urged governments to protect the rights of people who use drugs during the pandemic and, later, to ground their COVID-19 responses on the right to health. The UN Special Rapporteur on hazardous substances directed States to ensure necessary protective equipment for healthcare workers. A group of UN special procedure mandate holders urged States to protect all workers’ health in lifting restrictions.

The IACtHR has published a detailed infographic (in Spanish) on COVID-19 and the right to health, and a new booklet compiling its jurisprudence on the right to health (in Spanish).

The UN Secretary General issued a policy brief on addressing the mental health impacts of the pandemic.

Relatedly, the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights’ new General Comment 25, on science, includes a section on the pandemic.

With regard to vaccines, the IACHR called on States to prioritize public health and human rights in their decisions related to COVID vaccination, and issued a resolution on vaccines, in addition to a press release on access to vaccines.

Access to information & media freedom

The ACHPR Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression; the IACHR Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression, UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression, and OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (jointly); the COE Secretary General; the COE Commissioner for Human Rights; and, the COE Committee of Experts on the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages have all issued statements on access to information and press freedom during the pandemic. The UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression has also dedicated his latest report to the Human Rights Council to these topics. The UN, OSCE, and OAS experts for freedom of expression also addressed COVID-19 restrictions in their 2020 Joint Declaration on elections in the digital age.

Relatedly, various UN agencies published a joint statement on data protection and privacy in the COVID-19 response.

The IACHR issued a practical guide on promoting universal access to the internet during the pandemic.

Persons deprived of liberty

The ACHPR; IACHR (twice); COE Commissioner for Human Rights (on immigration detention and prisoners); European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT); UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT); Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD); OHCHR; OHCHR and WHO (jointly); UN Network on Migration; ODIHR; and UNODC, WHO, UNAIDS and OHCHR (jointly) have provided guidance concerning conditions of detention and the release of prisoners and detainees, including those in immigration detention. ODIHR has also issued its own guidance on monitoring places of detention in the pandemic.

Relatedly, the SPT issued advice on the applicability of the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture to places of compulsory quarantine.

The IACHR and UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth have also cautioned against the release of certain prisoners, in order to avoid impunity for grave human rights violations.

Human rights bodies have specifically warned of unsafe conditions in places of detention in the Americas, Belarus, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Iran, Israel, Kyrgyzstan, Peru, Syria, and the United States (regarding prisons, detention of migrants, and other detention centers).

The IACtHR issued provisional measures ordering Panama to protect the rights to life, health, and personal integrity of migrants held in detention, in the context of the pandemic. The IACHR has also granted precautionary measures in favor of people in detention.

Discrimination and xenophobia

OHCHR guidance has addressed minority rights and racial discrimination in the context of COVID. The IACHR, Inter-American Network on Afro-descendant Population Policies (RIAFRO), and UN Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent have each issued statements appealing to governments to combat discrimination against black people in the provision of health services and the implementation of measures to mitigate COVID-19. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights urged States to address the disparate impact of the pandemic on racial and ethnic minorities, as well as racial discrimination. The UN Network on Racial Discrimination and the Protection of Minorities issued a detailed statement offering guidance on COVID-19 responses. CERD issued a statement on the pandemic’s implications for discrimination and marginalized groups.

The UN Special Rapporteur on racism urged states to address xenophobia related to COVID-19.

The COE Secretary General and COE Commissioner for Human Rights asked States to ensure protection of Roma people and Travellers. The UN special rapporteurs on racism and minority issues (jointly) called on Bulgaria to stop hate speech and discrimination against Roma. The COE Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities called attention to COVID-19’s impact on minority groups.

The UN Secretary-General published a guidance note on countering COVID-19 related hate speech.

The UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion called on States to address the rise in antisemitism during the pandemic.

Gender-based violence and women’s rights

The ACHPR Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Women, IACHR, CIM, COE Secretary General, Committee of Parties to the Istanbul Convention, UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women, ASEAN, and UN Women all issued statements on preventing or addressing increased domestic violence during the pandemic. The Inter-American Commission of Women (CIM) published detailed analysis of the impacts on women and their rights. The COE Commissioner for Human Rights urged Poland not to use the pandemic to restrict women’s reproductive rights, and more broadly called on States not to restrict access to sexual and reproductive health and rights. The Head of UN Human Rights in Iraq called on the government to address domestic violence and other impacts on women.

The UN Secretary-General, UN Working Group on discrimination against women and girls, UN Women, OHCHR and African Union (jointly), and OHCHR published broader guidance on protecting women’s rights.

UN Women has also published a series of COVID-19 briefs on ending violence against women, in addition to other resources on gender-sensitive responses to the pandemic. The IACHR called on States to guarantee the principle of enhanced due diligence and right of access to justice during the pandemic, with regard to violence against women.

Children’s rights

The African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, COE Lanzarote Committee, UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, UN Special Rapporteur on the sale and sexual exploitation of children, UN Special Rapporteur on sale and sexual exploitation of children and UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children (jointly), UNICEF, the UN Inter-Agency Working Group on Violence Against Children, the UN Inter-Agency Network on Youth Development, and the UN Secretary-General all released guidance on protecting children’s rights during the pandemic.

The UN Secretary-General produced a policy brief on education during the pandemic. The UN Special Rapporteur on education prepared a report on the pandemic’s impact on the right to education. The IACHR issued practical guides on access to education and family unity (in the context of migration) in the pandemic.

Rights of persons with disabilities

The IACHR, COE Commissioner for Human Rights, UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Special Envoy of the Secretary-General on Disability and Accessibility (jointly), Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities, OHCHR, the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General and the Independent Expert on the rights of older persons (jointly, on women with disabilities and on the right to life), two special envoys to the UN Secretary-General (jointly), and the UN Secretary-General all issued guidance on respecting and protecting the human rights of persons with disabilities in COVID-19 responses. The OAS published a compendium on national best practices to improve care for persons with disabilities in the pandemic.

The Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities also published a letter to governments and collaborated on guidance regarding disability inclusive social protection and other disability considerations relevant in the pandemic.

Rights of migrants, asylum seekers, refugees and IDPs

See also Persons deprived of liberty, above, with regard to immigration detention.

The UN committee on Migrant Workers and UN Special Rapporteur on migrants issued a joint guidance note on the human rights of migrants and COVID-19, and the OHCHR has published its own guidance brief, as has the UN Secretary-General. The IACHR; COE Commissioner for Human Rights; African Union (on migrant workers and on migration); UN Special Rapporteur on migrants and UN Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons (jointly); OHCHR, International Organization for Migration, UNHCR, and WHO (jointly); and, COE and FRA (jointly) have published statements on ensuring respect for the rights of migrants and trafficked persons during the pandemic. The UN Network on Migration called on States to suspend forced returns of migrants. The UN Secretary-General published a policy brief on “people on the move” during the pandemic.

UNHCR’s resources on the pandemic include practical recommendations for addressing the protection of asylum seekers and refugees.

The ILO issued recommendations on protecting migrant workers during the pandemic. Similarly, IOM and and International Chamber of Commerce published guidance for employers on protecting migrant workers.

The UN Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons issued a position paper on the pandemic’s impact on trafficked persons. The OSCE Special Representative for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings also published recommendations on States’ responses to COVID-19.

The UN Special Rapporteur on internally displaced persons issued a statement identifying measures States should take to protect IDPs.

The IACHR issued a practical guide on family unity and reunification in the context of migration in the pandemic.

Various UN mechanisms together with the IACHR and ACHPR issued a joint Guidance Note on equitable access to vaccines for migrants.

Rights of older persons

The IACHR; COE Commissioner for Human Rights; the Independent Expert on the rights of older persons; the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General and the Independent Expert on the rights of older persons (jointly, on women and on the right to life); and the UN Secretary-General have commented on States’ human rights obligations with regard to older persons in mitigating COVID-19.

With regard to vaccines, the IACHR has urged States to prioritize access for older persons.

Rights of Indigenous peoples

The ACHPR, IACHR, OAS, UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) have published guidance to States on respecting Indigenous peoples’ human rights during the pandemic. The OHCHR has also issued guidance on Indigenous peoples’ rights and COVID-19.

Rights of LGBTI Persons

The OHCHR issued specialized guidance on the impact of COVID-19 on the human rights of LGBTI people. The UN Independent Expert on sexual orientation and gender identity issued guidelines for States on pandemic response and recovery that avoid violence and discrimination against LGBTI persons.

In connection with the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, the IACHR, UN Independent Expert on sexual orientation and gender identity, many other UN special procedure mandate holders, COE Commissioner for Human Rights, and the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child issued a joint statement on protecting the rights of LGBTI persons during the pandemic.

UN special procedure mandate holders have warned Uganda not to use emergency powers to infringe the human rights of LGBT persons.

The IACHR similarly urged Panama to protect the rights of trans and gender diverse persons in the context of mobility restrictions related to the pandemic.

Use of force

The ACHPR, UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial killings, and various special procedure mandate holders (jointly) have cautioned States not to engage in excessive use of force in enforcing COVID-19 mitigation measures.

Economic and social rights, inequality & poverty

The UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) issued broad guidance for governments’ COVID-19 responses. The ACHPR also released guidance on protecting economic, social and cultural rights in the context of the pandemic. The OHCHR and other UN agencies released a checklist for governments on socio-economic responses that meet human rights standards. The ECSR has a webpage on social rights and COVID-19, which includes its statement on the right to health in the pandemic. The UN Secretary-General has published a report on the UN framework for the immediate socio-economic response to COVID-19.

The UN Special Rapporteur on the right to development issued detailed guidance on a human rights response to the coming global recession. The Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty called on States to transform the economies and social protection, and published an informal report on social protection in the post-pandemic recovery. The head of UNDP’s Asia-Pacific bureau urged governments to provide universal basic income.

Special procedure mandate holders have published statements on ensuring the rights to housing and water, and on directing resources at limiting inequality. The Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing has also issued COVID-19 guidance notes on homelessness, protecting renters and mortgage payers, prohibiting evictions, informal settlements, and protecting housing from financialization.

The UN Secretary-General produced a policy brief on education during the pandemic. The UN Special Rapporteur on education prepared a report on the pandemic’s impact on the right to education. The IACHR issued a practical guide on access to education in the pandemic.

UN and Inter-American special rapporteurs issued a joint statement calling on States to strengthen environmental protection during the pandemic, and several UN entities released “key messages” on human rights, the environment, and COVID-19.

Relatedly, the OHCHR issued guidance on business and human rights during the pandemic.

The IACHR produced a practical guide on ensuring respect for grieving and funeral rites during the pandemic.

Workers’ Rights

The UN Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery called on states to protect people from exploitation and slavery. A group of UN special procedure mandate holders urged States to protect all workers’ health in lifting restrictions. The ILO’s webpage on COVID-19 compiles its recommendations on mitigating the impacts on workers and the world of work, including briefs on social protection in developing countries and sickness benefits. The IOM and and International Chamber of Commerce published guidance for employers on protecting migrant workers during the pandemic. The UN Secretary-General also produced a brief on “the world of work and COVID-19.”

Relatedly, the OHCHR issued guidance on business and human rights during the pandemic.

Sanctions, debt & solidarity

The CESCR, UN Independent Expert on foreign debt, UN Special Rapporteur on the right to food, UN Special Rapporteur on unilateral coercive measures, and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights urged States to support developing countries and lift sanctions to reduce inequality and hunger, and mitigate the economic effects of COVID-19. Several of these mechanisms repeated this call in August. The UN Special Rapporteur on international solidarity called for adoption of the Draft UN Declaration on Human Rights and International Solidarity, and the UN Secretary-General has released policy briefs on debt and international solidarity in the context of COVID-19. The Independent Expert on foreign debt and human rights called on international financial institutions, G20 States, and private creditors to extend the debt standstill for lower income countries.

A group of special procedure mandate holders called on the United States to lift is Cuba embargo during the pandemic.

Rule of law (independence of judiciary, elections, democracy)

The COE Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) and UN Special Rapporteur on independence of judges and lawyers warned of risks to democracy and the independence of the judiciary, respectively, during the pandemic. The UN, OSCR, and OAS experts for freedom of expression also addressed COVID-19 restrictions in their 2020 Joint Declaration on elections in the digital age. The IACHR called on States to protect democracy and the rule of law during the pandemic. The ACHPR issued a statement on elections during COVID-19. The ACHPR and AU issued a statement on corruption and the pandemic.

The Inter-American Institute of Human Rights has published two guides (in Spanish) on organizing an election and on establishing a protocol for elections during a pandemic. The OAS also put out a guide on democratic principles and political action to address the pandemic (in Spanish). The AfCHPR issued an advisory opinion on holding elections during public health emergencies.

The European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ) has issued a “Declaration on lessons learnt and Challenges faced by the judiciary during and after the Covid-19 Pandemic” and the COE Consultative Council of European Judges issued a statement on the role of judges in the pandemic.

The IACHR and UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers issued a joint declaration on access to justice during the pandemic.

Human rights defenders & assembly and association

The UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of assembly and association issued ten principles to guide States in respecting those rights during the pandemic, along with a ‘toolbox’ and flashcards on protecting peaceful assembly and association during health emergencies. The OHCHR issued guidance on the protection of civic space. The IACHR and ACHPR both called on States to protect human rights defenders and their work. UN special procedure mandate holders warned of closing digital space.

Conflict & International Humanitarian Law

On March 23, the UN Secretary-General first called for a global ceasefire during the pandemic, and has since reiterated this call, which 170 States and the UN Security Council have endorsed. Various UN representatives have emphasized the importance of ending, or pausing, hostilities in Yemen, Syria, Libya, the Middle East more broadly, Myanmar, Colombia, and the Great Lakes region of Africa. The head of UNICEF called for a global ceasefire to protect children. The OHCHR and an Independent Expert have called attention to the impact of conflict on mitigating COVID-19 in Libya and the Central African Republic, respectively. The UN is working to continue peacekeeping operations during the pandemic. The ACHPR called for a ceasefire in Libya.

The UN Security Council was initially unable to adopt a proposed resolution on a global ceasefire due to the United States’ objections, but did adopt the resolution on July 1. The topic of ceasefires was also raised at a virtual meeting between the Human Rights Council and High Commissioner for Human Rights.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has issued guidance on the applicability of international humanitarian law during the pandemic, and has other advice and analysis on its COVID-19 webpage.

United Nations

Visit the UN COVID-19 Response Portal here: https://www.un.org/coronavirus. See all UN press releases on COVID-19 here: https://news.un.org/en/tags/covid-19. An overview of the UN response, including thematic and regional policy briefs, can be found here: https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus/UN-response. See the below section on the “Secretary-General & Special Envoys” for reports and remarks from the UN Secretary-General.

Human Rights Council

Some States have made voluntary submissions to the Council on their responses to COVID-19.

Statement by the President, Human rights implications of the COVID-19 pandemic, UN Doc. A/HRC/43/L.42, 27 May, 2020, https://undocs.org/A/HRC/43/L.42 (press release here: https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=25914&LangID=E) Updated version here: https://undocs.org/en/A/HRC/PRST/43/1

Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

Note, this section does not include all OHCHR statements related to COVID-19, and is limited to the most significant and detailed guidance. The OHCHR COVID-19 webpage collects OHCHR statements and guidance, and links to other UN human rights mechanisms’ statements. Resources include a growing set of infographics on country-specific recommendations for addressing the pandemic, and States’ own submissions regarding their responses to COVID-19. The OHCHR is continually adding to its summary guidance on a range of topics, and has published longer briefs on protecting the rights of specific groups and in particular contexts.

OHCHR webpage, COVID-19 and its human rights dimensions (collecting *most* statements from High Commissioner, treaty bodies, special procedures): https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/COVID-19.aspx
OHCHR, COVID-19 Guidance (webpage first published April 17) (includes links to detailed guidance on select topics and brief guidance on range of rights and groups): https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/COVID19Guidance.aspx (also in PDF)
OHCHR and WHO, Inter-Agency Standing Committee, Interim Guidance, COVID-19: Focus on Persons Deprived of Their Liberty (Mar. 2020), https://interagencystandingcommittee.org/system/files/2020-03/IASC%20Interim%20Guidance%20on%20COVID-19%20-%20Focus%20on%20Persons%20Deprived%20of%20Their%20Liberty.pdf
UNICEF & The Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action, Technical Note: COVID-19 and Children Deprived of Their Liberty, https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/Detention/ChildrenDeprivedofLibertyandCOVID.pdf
OHCHR, COVID-19 and the Human Rights of Migrants: Guidance, 7 Apr. 2020, https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/Migration/OHCHRGuidance_COVID19_Migrants.pdf
OHCHR, COVID-19 and Women’s Human Rights: Guidance, 15 Apr. 2020, https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/Women/COVID-19_and_Womens_Human_Rights.pdf
OHCHR and African Union, 7 Possible Actions: Women’s Rights and COVID-19, https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/Women/7ActionsFinal.pdf
OHCHR, COVID-19 and the Human Rights of LGBTI People, 17 Apr. 2020, https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/LGBT/LGBTIpeople.pdf
United Nations Inter-Agency Network on Youth Development, Statement on COVID-19 & Youth, https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/Youth/COVID-19_and_Youth.pdf
OHCHR, Emergency Measures & COVID-19: Guidance, 27 Apr. 2020, https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Events/EmergencyMeasures_COVID19.pdf
OHCHR, COVID 19 and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Guidance, 29 Apr. 2020, https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/Disability/COVID-19_and_The_Rights_of_Persons_with_Disabilities.pdf
OHCHR, Civic Space and COVID-19: Guidance, 4 May 2020, https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/CivicSpace/CivicSpaceandCovid.pdf
UNODC, WHO, UNAIDS and OHCHR joint statement on COVID-19 in prisons and other closed settings, 13 May 2020, https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/13-05-2020-unodc-who-unaids-and-ohchr-joint-statement-on-covid-19-in-prisons-and-other-closed-settings
OHCHR, COVID-19 and Minority Rights: Overview and Promising Practices, 4 Jun. 2020, https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/Minorities/OHCHRGuidance_COVID19_MinoritiesRights.pdf
OHCHR, Racial Discrimination in the Context of the COVID-19 Crisis, 22 Jun. 2020, https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/Racism/COVID-19_and_Racial_Discrimination.pdf
OHCHR, COVID-19 and Indigenous Peoples’ Rights, 29 Jun. 2020, https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/IPeoples/OHCHRGuidance_COVID19_IndigenouspeoplesRights.pdf
OHCHR, High Commissioner urges States to “grasp the vital importance of this moment,” 30 Jun. 2020, https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=26015&LangID=E
OHCHR et al., Checklist for a Human Rights-Based Approach to Socio-Economic Country Responses to COVID-19 (July 2020), https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Events/COVID-19/Checklist_HR-Based_Approach_Socio-Economic_Country_Responses_COVID-19.pdf
OHCHR, Business and Human Rights in Times of COVID-19, Oct. 2020, https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/Business/BusinessAndHR-COVID19.pdf
OHCHR, Human Rights and Access to COVID-19 Vaccines, 17 Dec. 2020, https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Events/COVID-19_AccessVaccines_Guidance.pdf
OHCHR & UNEP, Human Rights, the Environment and COVID-19: Key Messages (undated), https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/ClimateChange/HR-environment-COVID19.pdf

Special Procedures

This section includes the OHCHR webpage where special procedure mandate holders’ COVID-19 press releases can be found, but lists only those statements that include particularly detailed guidance. Several special procedure mandate holders have published a joint questionnaire soliciting information on COVID-19’s impact on human rights. Numerous mandate holders have prepared, or are preparing, reports to the General Assembly or Human Rights Council that relate to COVID-19 (see the “Reports to HRC / GA” section of the OHCHR webpage).

OHCHR webpage with all special procedure statements on COVID-19: https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/SP/Pages/COVID-19-and-Special-Procedures.aspx
Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary killings, Guidance on the use of force by law enforcement personnel in time of COVID-19 emergency, 2 Apr. 2020, https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/Executions/HumanRightsDispatch1.pdf (other dispatches, possibly forthcoming, at https://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Executions/Pages/HumanRightsDispatches.aspx)
Working Group of Experts on people of African descent, Statement on COVID-19, Racial equity and racial equality must guide State action, 6 Apr. 2020, https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=25768&LangID=E
Special Rapporteur on the right to peaceful assembly and association, States responses to Covid 19 threat should not halt freedoms of assembly and association, 14 Apr. 2020, https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=25788&LangID=E
Special Envoy of the Secretary-General on Accessibility and Disability & Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons, Joint Statement: The right to life of persons with disabilities and older persons infected by Covid-19, 15 Apr. 2020, https://www.un.org/development/desa/disabilities/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2020/04/Version2-Decl-Estandar-Bioet-Dpcd-ENabril20.pdf
Independent Expert on the effects of foreign debt and human rights, COVID-19 Urgent appeal for a human rights response to the economic recession, 15 Apr. 2020, https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/Development/IEDebt/20200414_IEDebt_urgent_appeal_COVID19_EN.pdf
Working Group on discrimination against women and girls, Responses to the COVID-19 pandemic must not discount women and girls, 20 Apr. 2020, https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=25808&LangID=E
Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Disease pandemic and the freedom of opinion and expression, UN Doc. A/HRC/44/49, 23 April 2020, https://undocs.org/A/HRC/44/49
Special Envoy of the Secretary-General on Accessibility and Disability & Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons, Joint Statement: Women and girls with disabilities and older women in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic, 28 Apr. 2020, https://www.un.org/development/desa/disabilities/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2020/04/covid19-joint-statement-women-girls-disabilities-olderwomen-covid19.pdf
Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, Deliberation No. 11 on prevention of arbitrary deprivation of liberty in the context of public health emergencies, 8 May 2020, https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/Detention/DeliberationNo11.pdf
Independent Expert on sexual orientation and gender identity, et al., COVID-19: The suffering and resilience of LGBT persons must be visible and inform the actions of States – Statement by human rights experts on the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, 14 May 2020, https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=25884&LangID=E
Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, “COVID-19 is devastating indigenous communities worldwide, and it’s not only about health” – UN expert warns, 18 May 2020, https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=25893&LangID=E
Committee on Migrant Workers & UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, Joint Guidance Note on the Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Human Rights of Migrants, 26 May 2020, https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/Migration/CMWSPMJointGuidanceNoteCOVID-19Migrants.pdf
UN Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, COVID-19 Position Paper: The impact and consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on trafficked and exploited persons, 8 Jun. 2020, https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/Trafficking/COVID-19-Impact-trafficking.pdf
Independent Expert on sexual orientation and gender identity, ASPIRE Guidelines on COVID-19 response and recovery free from violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, 18 June 2020, https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/SexualOrientation/SOGI-GuidelinesCOVID19_EN.docx
UN Special Rapporteur on the right to education, Right to education: impact of the COVID-19 crisis on the right to education; concerns, challenges and opportunities, 15 June 2020, https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/RegularSessions/Session44/Documents/A_HRC_44_39.docx
Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances & Committee on Enforced Disappearances, Key Guidelines on COVID-19 and Enforced Disappearances, 18 Sept. 2020, https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/Disappearances/Guidelines-COVID19-EnforcedDisappearance.pdf
Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty, Looking back to look ahead: A rights-based approach to social protection in the post-COVID-19 economic recovery, 11 Sept. 2020, https://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Poverty/Pages/Covid19.aspx
Special Rapporteur on independence of judges and lawyers & IACHR, Joint Declaration on Access to Justice in the Context of the Pandemic, Jan. 27, 2021, http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/jsForm/?File=/en/iachr/media_center/preleases/2021/015.asp

Treaty Bodies

The OHCHR has collected all COVID-19 statements and advice from treaty bodies on a dedicated webpage. Resources include a human rights treaty bodies toolkit of perspectives and jurisprudence, and a compilation of treaty body statements on COVID-19. The OHCHR is also collecting and updating information on the changes to treaty bodies’ schedules and activities, including guidance on sessions in late 2021, and an automatic two-month extension of deadlines in individual communication procedures.

Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture, Advice of the SPT to States Parties and National Preventive Mechanisms relating to the Coronavirus Pandemic, Mar. 25, 2020, https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/HRBodies/OPCAT/AdviceStatePartiesCoronavirusPandemic2020.pdf
Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture, Advice provided by the SPT to the National Preventive Mechanism of the United Kingdom regarding compulsory quarantine for coronavirus, 31 Mar. 2020, https://undocs.org/CAT/OP/9 (released Mar. 6, 2020)
Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities & Special Envoy of the UNSG on Disability and Accessibility, Joint Statement: Persons with Disabilities and COVID-19, 1 Apr. 2020, https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=25765&LangID=E
Committee on the Rights of the Child, The Committee on the Rights of the Child 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, 8 Apr. 2020, https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/Treaties/CRC/Shared%20Documents/1_Global/INT_CRC_STA_9095_E.pdf
Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Statement on the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and economic, social and cultural rights, UN Doc. E/C.12/2020/1, 17 Apr. 2020, https://undocs.org/E/C.12/2020/1
CEDAW Committee, Guidance note on CEDAW and COVID-19, 22 Apr. 2020, https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/HRBodies/CEDAW/Statements/CEDAW_Guidance_note_COVID-19.docx
Human Rights Committee, Statement on derogations from the Covenant in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic, 24 Apr. 2020, https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/HRBodies/CCPR/COVIDstatementEN.pdf
Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, General Comment No. 25 (2020) on science and economic, social and cultural rights, UN Doc. E/C.12/GC/25, 30 Apr. 2020, https://undocs.org/E/C.12/GC/25
Committee on the Rights of the Child, et al., COVID-19: The suffering and resilience of LGBT persons must be visible and inform the actions of States – Statement by human rights experts on the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, 14 May 2020, https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=25884&LangID=E
Committee on Migrant Workers & UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, Joint Guidance Note on the Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Human Rights of Migrants, 26 May 2020, https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/Migration/CMWSPMJointGuidanceNoteCOVID-19Migrants.pdf
CERD, Statement on the COVID-19 pandemic and its implications under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, 7 Aug. 2020, https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/HRBodies/TB/COVID19/Statement-CERD-COVID-19.docx
Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances & Committee on Enforced Disappearances, Key Guidelines on COVID-19 and Enforced Disappearances, 18 Sept. 2020, https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/Disappearances/Guidelines-COVID19-EnforcedDisappearance.pdf
CESCR, Statement on universal and equitable access to vaccines for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), 15 Dec. 2020, UN Doc. E/C.12/2020/2, https://undocs.org/E/C.12/2020/2

Secretary General & Special Envoys

The UN Secretary-General has released a number of policy briefs and statements on the human rights impacts of COVID-19 and the international community’s role. They are listed below, among other outputs, and can be found here: https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus/un-secretary-general/#reports. The UN has also produced regionally-focused reports on the impact of the pandemic in South-East Asia, the Arab region, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Africa.

UN Secretary-General, Shared Responsibility, Global Solidarity: Responding to the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19 (March 2020), https://www.un.org/sites/un2.un.org/files/sg_report_socio-economic_impact_of_covid19.pdf
Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities & Special Envoy of the Secretary-General on Disability and Accessibility, Joint Statement: Persons with Disabilities and COVID-19, 1 Apr. 2020, https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=25765&LangID=E
UN Secretary-General, Policy Brief: The Impact of COVID-19 on Women, 9 Apr. 2020, https://www.un.org/sites/un2.un.org/files/policy_brief_on_covid_impact_on_women_9_apr_2020_updated.pdf
Special Envoy of the Secretary-General on Accessibility and Disability & Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons, Joint Statement: The right to life of persons with disabilities and older persons infected by Covid-19, 15 Apr. 2020, https://www.un.org/development/desa/disabilities/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2020/04/Version2-Decl-Estandar-Bioet-Dpcd-ENabril20.pdf
Special Envoy of the Secretary-General on Accessibility and Disability & Special Envoy on COVID-19 for Latin America and the Caribbean/ WHO, Joint Statement: Mental Health of Persons with Disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic, 15 Apr. 2020, https://www.un.org/development/desa/disabilities/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2020/04/Salud-Mental-Covid19-y-personas-con-discapacidad-ENGapril15.pdf
UN Secretary-General, Policy Brief: The Impact of COVID-19 on children, 15 Apr. 2020, https://unsdg.un.org/sites/default/files/2020-04/160420_Covid_Children_Policy_Brief.pdf
UN Secretary-General, Debt and COVID-19: A Global Response in Solidarity, 17 Apr. 2020, https://www.un.org/sites/un2.un.org/files/un_policy_brief_on_debt_relief_and_covid_april_2020.pdf
UN Secretary-General, COVID-19 and Human Rights: We are all in this together, 23 Apr. 2020, https://www.un.org/sites/un2.un.org/files/un_policy_brief_on_human_rights_and_covid_23_april_2020.pdf
Inter-Agency Working Group on Violence Against Children, Agenda for Action (Apr. 2020), https://violenceagainstchildren.un.org/sites/violenceagainstchildren.un.org/files/2020/agenda_for_action/agenda_iawg_on_vac_27_april_ready_for_launch.pdf
UN Secretary-General, A UN framework for the immediate socio-economic response to COVID-19 (Apr. 2020), https://www.un.org/sites/un2.un.org/files/un_framework_report_on_covid-19.pdf
Special Envoy of the Secretary-General on Accessibility and Disability & Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons, Joint Statement: Women and girls with disabilities and older women in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic, 28 Apr. 2020, https://www.un.org/development/desa/disabilities/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2020/04/covid19-joint-statement-women-girls-disabilities-olderwomen-covid19.pdf
UN Secretary-General, Policy Brief: A Disability-Inclusive Response to COVID-19 (May 2020), https://www.un.org/sites/un2.un.org/files/sg_policy_brief_on_persons_with_disabilities_final.pdf
UN Secretary-General, Policy Brief: The Impact of COVID-19 on older persons (May 2020), https://www.un.org/sites/un2.un.org/files/un_policy_brief_on_covid-19_and_older_persons_1_may_2020.pdf
UN Secretary-General, United Nations Guidance Note on Addressing and Countering COVID-19 related Hate Speech, 11 May 2020, https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/HateSpeech/UNGuidanceHate.pdf
UN Secretary-General, Policy Brief: COVID-19 and the Need for Action on Mental Health (13 May 2020), https://www.un.org/sites/un2.un.org/files/un_policy_brief-covid_and_mental_health_final.pdf
UN Secretary-General, Policy Brief: COVID-19 and People on the Move (June 2020), https://www.un.org/sites/un2.un.org/files/sg_policy_brief_on_people_on_the_move.pdf
UN Secretary-General, Policy Brief: The Impact of COVID-19 on Food Security and Nutrition (June 2020), https://www.un.org/sites/un2.un.org/files/sg_policy_brief_on_covid_impact_on_food_security.pdf
UN Secretary-General, United Nations Comprehensive Response to COVID-19: Saving Lives, Protecting Societies, Recovering Better (June 2020), https://www.un.org/sites/un2.un.org/files/un_comprehensive_response_to_covid-19_june_2020.pdf
UN Secretary-General, Policy Brief: The World of Work and COVID-19 (June 2020), https://www.un.org/sites/un2.un.org/files/the_world_of_work_and_covid-19.pdf
UN Secretary-General, Policy Brief: COVID-19 and People on the Move (June 2020), https://www.un.org/sites/un2.un.org/files/sg_policy_brief_on_people_on_the_move.pdf
UN Secretary-General, Tackling Inequality: A New Social Contract for a New Era, 18 Jul. 2020, https://www.un.org/sites/un2.un.org/files/sg_remarks_on_covid_and_inequality.pdf
UN Secretary-General, Policy Brief: COVID-19 in an Urban World (Jul. 2020), https://www.un.org/sites/un2.un.org/files/sg_policy_brief_covid_urban_world_july_2020.pdf
UN Secretary-General, Policy Brief: Education during COVID-19 and beyond (Aug. 2020), https://www.un.org/sites/un2.un.org/files/sg_policy_brief_covid-19_and_education_august_2020.pdf
UN Secretary-General, United Nations Comprehensive Response to COVID-19: Saving Lives, Protecting Societies, Recovering Better (Sept. 2020), https://www.un.org/sites/un2.un.org/files/un-comprehensive-response-to-covid-19.pdf
UN Secretary-General, Policy Brief: COVID-19 and Universal Health Coverage (Oct. 2020), https://www.un.org/sites/un2.un.org/files/sg_policy_brief_on_universal_health_coverage.pdf

UN General Assembly

The webpage of the President of the 74th session of the General Assembly has information on its working procedures and other decisions taken with regard to COVID-19. The online Journal indicates which meetings are happening and whether they can be viewed online.

UN General Assembly, Resolution 74/270, Global solidarity to fight the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), 3 Apr. 2020, UN Doc. A/RES/74/270, https://undocs.org/en/A/RES/74/270
UN General Assembly, Resolution 74/274, International cooperation to ensure global access to medicines, vaccines and medical equipment to face COVID-19, 21 Apr. 2020, UN Doc. A/RES/74/274, https://undocs.org/en/A/RES/74/274
UN General Assembly, Decision 74/561, Extension of the procedure for taking decisions of the General Assembly during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic until the end of August 2020, 21 Jul. 2020, https://www.un.org/pga/74/2020/08/13/decision-number-74-561-extension-of-the-procedure-for-taking-decisions-of-the-general-assembly-during-the-coronavirus-disease-covid-19-pandemic-until-the-end-of-august-2020/
UN General Assembly, Draft Omnibus Resolution on the COVID-19 Pandemic (10 Sept. 2020), https://www.un.org/pga/74/2020/09/10/draft-omnibus-resolution-on-the-covid-19-pandemic-2/
UN General Assembly, Resolution 74/306, Comprehensive and coordinated response to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, 15 Sept. 2020, UN Doc. A/REST/74/306, https://undocs.org/en/A/RES/74/306
UN General Assembly, Resolution 74/307, United response against global health threats: combating COVID-19, 15 Sept. 2020, UN Doc. A/RES/74/307, https://undocs.org/A/RES/74/307
UN General Assembly, Resolution 75/4, Special session of the General Assembly in response to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, 9 Nov. 2020, UN Doc. A/REST/75/4, https://undocs.org/a/res/75/4
UN General Assembly, Resolution 75/156, Strengthening national and international response to the impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on women and girls, 23 Dec. 2020, UN Doc. A/RES/75/156, https://undocs.org/en/A/RES/75/157
UN General Assembly, Resolution 75/157, Women and girls and the response to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), 23 Dec. 2020, UN Doc. A/RES/75/157, https://undocs.org/en/A/RES/75/157

Various UN Agencies

Note: This section is not exhaustive. Other UN entities may have put out statements and guidance on respecting human rights during the COVID-19 pandemic. We have included here some of the most prominent.

United Nations Network on Migration – Working Group on Alternative to Immigration Detention, COVID-19 & Immigration Detention: What Can Governments and Other Stakeholders Do?, https://migrationnetwork.un.org/sites/default/files/docs/un_network_on_migration_wg_atd_policy_brief_covid-19_and_immigration_detention_0.pdf
United Nations Network on Racial Discrimination and the Protection of Minorities, Racial Discrimination and the Protection of Minorities in the COVID-19 Crisis, 29 April 2020, https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/Minorities/UN_Network_Racial_Discrimination_Minorities_COVID.pdf
UNODC, WHO, UNAIDS and OHCHR joint statement on COVID-19 in prisons and other closed settings, 13 May 2020, https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/13-05-2020-unodc-who-unaids-and-ohchr-joint-statement-on-covid-19-in-prisons-and-other-closed-settings
UN et al., Joint Statement on Data Protection and Privacy in the COVID-19 Response (undated), https://www.un.org/sites/un2.un.org/files/joint_statement_on_data_protection_and_privacy_in_covid-19_response.pdf

UNHCR

UNHCR, Practical Recommendations and Good Practice to Address Protection Concerns in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic, https://data2.unhcr.org/en/documents/download/75453#_ga=2.31971068.331485222.1593621363-1816567178.1593621363
UNHCR, 5 Key Calls to the European Union on the COVID-19 Response, https://www.unhcr.org/europeanunion/wp-content/uploads/sites/70/2020/06/UNHCR-COVID_Paper-2020-V2_screen.pdf

ILO

The International Labour Organization (ILO) has collected its recommendations and other documents on a dedicated COVID-19 webpage: https://www.ilo.org/global/topics/coronavirus/lang–en/index.htm.

ILO Brief, Protecting migrant workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: Recommendations for Policy-makers and Constituents (April 2020), https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/—ed_protect/—protrav/—migrant/documents/publication/wcms_743268.pdf
ILO, ILO Standards and COVID-19 (coronavirus): FAQ, Mar. 23, 2020, https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/—ed_norm/—normes/documents/publication/wcms_739937.pdf
ILO, Sickness benefits during sick leave and quarantine – Country responses and policy considerations in the context of COVID-19 (May 2020), https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/—ed_protect/—soc_sec/documents/publication/wcms_744510.pdf
ILO, Social protection responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in developing countries – Strengthening resilience by building universal social protection (May 2020), https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/—ed_protect/—soc_sec/documents/publication/wcms_744612.pdf

African Human Rights System

African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR)

(Past ACHPR press releases are not readily accessible from the ACHPR homepage. Find them all here: https://www.achpr.org/pressrelease/index.)

Press Statement of the African Commission on Human & Peoples’ Rights on the Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis, Feb. 28, 2020, https://www.achpr.org/pressrelease/detail?id=480
Press Statement of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the postponement of the 66^th Ordinary Session in light of the global Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Mar. 17, 2020, https://www.achpr.org/pressrelease/detail?id=487
Press Statement on human rights based effective response to the novel COVID-19 virus in Africa, Mar. 24, 2020, https://www.achpr.org/pressrelease/detail?id=483
Press Release by the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa on the Importance of Access to the Internet in Responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic, Apr. 8, 2020, https://www.achpr.org/pressrelease/detail?id=487
Press Release of the Special Rapporteur on Prisons, Conditions of Detention and Policing in Africa on Reports of Excessive use of Force by the Police during the COVID-19 Pandemic, Apr. 17, 2020, https://www.achpr.org/pressrelease/detail?id=491
Press Release of the Special Rapporteur on Prisons, Conditions of Detention and Policing in Africa on the Release of Prisoners during the COVID-19 Pandemic, Apr. 17, 2020, https://www.achpr.org/pressrelease/detail?id=492
Press Release on the Impact of the COVID-19 Virus on Indigenous Populations/Communities in Africa, Apr. 23, 2020, https://www.achpr.org/pressrelease/detail?id=493
Press Release of the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Women in Africa on violation of women’s rights during the COVID-19 Pandemic, May 6, 2020, https://www.achpr.org/pressrelease/detail?id=495
Press Statement on ACHPR Letter submitted to the African Union Chairperson H.E. President Cyril Ramaphosa on making human rights key pillar of the continental response to COVID19, May 7, 2020, https://www.achpr.org/pressrelease/detail?id=497
Statement on Letter of Urgent Appeal to the United Republic of Tanzania, May 7, 2020, https://www.achpr.org/pressrelease/detail?id=498
Press release of the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders and Focal Point on Reprisals in Africa on the protection of Human Rights Defenders during the COVID-19 pandemic, May 11, 2020, https://www.achpr.org/pressrelease/detail?id=496
Statement on Letter of Urgent Appeal to the Republic of South Africa, May 12, 2020, https://www.achpr.org/pressrelease/detail?id=499
Press release on mutiny at Lome prison due to COVID-19 on May 12, 2020, May 15, 2020, https://www.achpr.org/pressrelease/detail?id=500
Press Statement of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the human rights of mine workers and mining affected communities during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa, May 18, 2020, https://www.achpr.org/pressrelease/detail?id=502
Press release on the holding of general elections in Burundi in the context of the prevalence of the Coronavirus Pandemic (in French), May 19, 2020, https://www.achpr.org/pressrelease/detail?id=503
Press Release On The Holding Of General Elections In Burundi In The Context Of The Prevalence Of The Coronavirus Pandemic (in French), May 19, 2020, https://www.achpr.org/pressrelease/detail?id=503
Africa: We Must Act Now to Avoid a Catastrophe, Say Rights Chiefs, May 20, 2020, https://www.achpr.org/public/Document/file/English/Africa%20COVID%20UN-ACHPR%20joint%20statement.pdf
Press statement on attacks on civilian areas in Tripoli, Libya, May 22, 2020, https://www.achpr.org/pressrelease/detail?id=507
Statement Of Commissioner Solomon Ayele Dersso, (PhD) Chairperson Of The African Commission On Human And Peoples’ Rights At The Africa Dialogue Series Organized By The United Nations Office Of The Special Advisor On Africa And The African Union Under The Theme COVID19 And Silencing The Guns In Africa: Challenges And Opportunities, 20 – 22 May 2020, https://www.achpr.org/pressrelease/detail?id=508
Press release on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on economic, social and cultural rights in Africa, Jun. 4, 2020, https://www.achpr.org/pressrelease/detail?id=510
Statement of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights on Elections in Africa during the COVID-19 Pandemic, Jul. 22, 2020, https://www.achpr.org/pressrelease/detail?id=522
Presentation Of Commissioner Solomon Ayele Dersso, (PhD), Chairperson Of The African Commission On Human And Peoples’ Rights At The Dialogue Between Regional Human Rights Protection Commissions In The Context Of The Pandemic, Hosted By The Inter-American Commission Of Human Rights, 12 August 2020, https://www.achpr.org/pressrelease/detail?id=529
Statement of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the African Union Advisory Board on Corruption and COVID-19, Nov. 2, 2020, https://www.achpr.org/pressrelease/detail?id=544
Upcoming Session, 30th Extraordinary Session of the ACHPR, Dec. 7, 2020, https://www.achpr.org/announcement/detail?id=103
Joint Declaration on the Right to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Democratic Governance, Dec. 10, 2020, https://www.achpr.org/pressrelease/detail?id=553

African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC)

ACERWC, Guiding Note on Children’s Rights during COVID-19, Apr. 8, 2020, https://www.acerwc.africa/Latest%20News/guiding-note-on-childrens-rights-during-covd-19/
ACERWC, 35th Virtual Session: 31 August – 08 September, 2020, https://www.acerwc.africa/35th-ordinary-virtual-session/
ACERWC, Communique on the 36th Ordinary Session of the ACERWC, Dec. 14, 2020, https://www.acerwc.africa/Latest%20News/communique-on-the-36th-ordinary-session-of-the-acerwc/

African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (AfCHPR)

AfCHPR, African Court Suspends its 56^th Ordinary Session Because of Outbreak of Coronavirus, Mar. 23, 2020, http://www.african-court.org/en/index.php/news/press-releases/item/344-african-court-suspends-its-56th-ordinary-session-because-of-outbreak-of-coronavirus
AfCHPR, African Court Judges Hold Virtual Meeting, May 4, 2020, http://www.african-court.org/en/index.php/news/press-releases/item/348-african-court-judges-hold-virtual-meeting
AfCHPR, Suspension of Time Limits Due to the Measures Taken in Response to COVID-19, May 22, 2020, http://www.african-court.org/en/index.php/news/press-releases/item/349-suspension-of-time-limits-due-to-the-measures-taken-in-response-to-covid-19
AfCHPR, The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights Will Begin Its 57th Ordinary Session on 1 June 2020, May 27, 2020, http://www.african-court.org/en/index.php/news/press-releases/item/350-the-african-court-on-human-and-peoples-rights-will-begin-its-57th-ordinary-session-on-1-june-2020
AfCHPR, African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights to Deliver Three Judgments, 13 Jul. 2020, http://www.african-court.org/en/index.php/news/press-releases/item/358-african-court-on-human-and-peoples-rights-to-deliver-three-judgments-on-wednesday-15-july-2020
AfCHPR, African Court Begins 58th Ordinary Session on 31 August 2020, http://www.african-court.org/en/index.php/news/press-releases/item/362-african-court-begins-58th-ordinary-session-on-31-august-2020
AfCHPR, Resumption of Computation of Time, Oct. 5, 2020, https://www.african-court.org/wpafc/resumption-of-computation-of-time/

African Union

See the AU COVID-19 Dashboard here: https://au.int/en/covid19

Statement of the African Union (AU) Labour Migration Advisory Committee (LMAC) on the novel Coronavirus Disease COVID-19 and the condition of African Migrant Workers, Apr. 14, 2020, https://au.int/en/pressreleases/20200414/statement-lmac-condition-african-migrant-workers-covid-19
AU, Press Release: Migration & Mobility in Contexts of COVID-19, Apr. 10, 2020, https://au.int/en/pressreleases/20200410/migration-mobility-contexts-covid-19
Webinar on Human Rights in Africa in the Context of COVID-19: Examining the role of AU Human Rights Organs in supporting Member States during and after a pandemic, June 29, 2020, https://au.int/en/pressreleases/20200629/webinar-human-rights-africa-context-covid-19-examining-role-au-human-rights
AU Press Release, COVID-19 threatens to reverse progress in birth registrations, Aug. 17, 2020, https://au.int/en/pressreleases/20200817/covid-19-threatens-reverse-progress-birth-registrations-strategies-counter

Inter-American Human Rights System

Both the IACHR and IACtHR have organized webinars on a range of human rights topics in the context of COVID-19. The IACHR’s Twitter and IACtHR’s Twitter feeds are good sources for details.

Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR)

Note: the IACHR has established the Rapid and Integrated Response Coordination Unit (SACROI, by its Spanish acronym) to coordinate its COVID-19 response. The SACROI website can be found here: http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/SACROI_COVID19/

IACHR Press Release, COVID-19: Governments must promote and protect access to and free flow of information during pandemic – International experts, Mar. 19, 2020, http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/expression/showarticle.asp?artID=1170&lID=1
IACHR Press Release, IACHR Announces Work System during COVID-19 Pandemic, Mar. 19, 2020, http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/media_center/PReleases/2020/059.asp
IACHR Press Release, IACHR and OSRESCER Urge States to Guarantee Comprehensive Protection for Human Rights and Public Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic, Mar. 20, 2020, http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/media_center/PReleases/2020/060.asp
IACHR Press Release, IACHR Implements Rapid and Integrated Response Coordination Unit for COVID-19 Pandemic Crisis Management, Mar. 28, 2020, http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/media_center/PReleases/2020/063.asp
IACHR Press Release, IACHR and its SRESCER Deeply Concerned about the Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Venezuela, Calls for Safeguards for the Rights of Venezuelans around the Americas, Mar. 29, 2020, http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/media_center/PReleases/2020/064.asp
IACHR Press Release, The IACHR urges States to guarantee the health and integrity of persons deprived of liberty and their families in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mar. 31, 2020, http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/media_center/PReleases/2020/066.asp
IACHR Resolution 1/2021, Covid-19 Vaccines and Inter-American Human Rights Obligations, Apr. 6, 2021, https://www.oas.org/en/iachr/decisions/pdf/Resolucion-1-21-en.pdf
IACHR Press Release, CIDH y su REDESCA expresan seria preocupación por la situación de los derechos humanos en el contexto de la respuesta a la pandemia por COVID-19 en Nicaragua, Apr. 8, 2020, http://www.oas.org/es/cidh/prensa/comunicados/2020/072.asp
IACHR Press Release, En el contexto de la pandemia CODI-19, la CIDH llama a los Estados a garantizar los derechos de las personas con discapacidad, Apr. 8, 2020, http://www.oas.org/es/cidh/prensa/comunicados/2020/071.asp
IACHR Press Release, CIDH adopta Resolución sobre Pandemia y Derechos Humanos en las Americas, Apr. 10, 2020, http://www.oas.org/es/cidh/prensa/comunicados/2020/073.asp
Resolution 1/2020, Pandemic and Human Rights in the Americas, Apr. 10, 2020, http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/decisions/pdf/Resolution-1-20-en.pdf
IACHR Press Release, 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, Apr. 11, 2020, http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/media_center/PReleases/2020/074.asp
IACHR Press Release, La CIDH urge a los Estados proteger los derechos humanos de las personas migrantes, refugiadas y desplazadas frente a la pandemia del COVID-19, Apr. 17, 2020, http://www.oas.org/es/cidh/prensa/comunicados/2020/077.asp
IACHR Press Release, La CIDH llama a los Estados de la OEA a asegurar que las medidas de excepción adoptadas para hacer frente la pandemia CODI-19 sean compatibles con sus obligaciones internacionales, Apr. 17, 2020, http://www.oas.org/es/cidh/prensa/comunicados/2020/076.asp
IACHR Press Release, IACHR Launches Multimedia Site Containing Human Rights Standards, Recommendations, and Monitoring Information Regarding the COVID-19 Pandemic, Apr. 18, 2020, http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/media_center/PReleases/2020/079.asp (see the SACROI site here: http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/SACROI_COVID19/)
IACHR Press Release, IACHR Extends Suspension of Deadlines for Petition, Case and Friendly Settlement System by One Month in Response to COVID-19 Health Emergency, Apr. 21, 2020, http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/media_center/PReleases/2020/083.asp
IACHR Press Release, CIDH expresa preocupación por iniciativa legislativa en Chile que autorizaría la prisión domiciliaria a determinados condenados por graves violaciones a los derechos humanos cometidas durante la dictadura cívico militar, Apr. 22, 2020, http://www.oas.org/es/cidh/prensa/comunicados/2020/087.asp
IACHR Press Release, IACHR Urges States to Guarantee the Rights of Older People during the COVID-19 Pandemic, Apr. 23, 2020, http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/media_center/PReleases/2020/088.asp
IACHR Press Release, IACHR and its Special Rapporteurship on ESCER calls on the States to guarantee the rights of Afro-descendant Persons and prevent racial discrimination in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, Apr. 28, 2020, http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/media_center/PReleases/2020/092.asp
IACHR Press Release, CIDH anuncia su 176° Período de Sesiones Virtual y recibe solicitudes para reuniones de trabajo (Spanish only), May 1, 2020, http://www.oas.org/es/cidh/prensa/comunicados/2020/098.asp
IACHR Press Release, Respeto al duelo de las familias de las personas fallecidas en la Pandemia del COVID19 (Spanish only), May 1, 2020, http://www.oas.org/es/cidh/prensa/comunicados/2020/097.asp
IACHR Press Release, La CIDH llama a los Estados a proteger y garantizar la labor de personas defensoras de derechos humanos ante la pandemia del COVID-19 (Spanish only), May 5, 2020, http://www.oas.org/es/cidh/prensa/comunicados/2020/101.asp
IACHR Press Release, La CIDH alerta sobre la especial vulnerabilidad de los pueblos indígenas frente a la pandemia de COVID-19 y llama a los Estados a tomar medidas específicas y acordes con su cultura y respeto a sus territorios (Spanish only), May 6, 2020, http://www.oas.org/es/cidh/prensa/comunicados/2020/103.asp
IACHR Press Release, CIDH condena hechos de violencia en cárceles peruanas, May 8, 2020, http://www.oas.org/es/cidh/prensa/comunicados/2020/107.asp
IACHR Press Release, On the eve of the International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia, the IACHR and various international experts call attention to the suffering and resilience of LGBT people during the COVID-19 pandemic, May 14, 2020, http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/media_center/PReleases/2020/110.asp
IACHR Press Release, CIDH llama a los Estados a garantizar derechos de personas venezolanas que retornan a Venezuela ante la pandemia del COVID-19 (Spanish only), May 16, 2020, http://www.oas.org/es/cidh/prensa/comunicados/2020/112.asp
IACHR Press Release, IACHR presents balance, impacts and results achieved by its Coordination and Timely Integrated Crisis Response Room for the COVID-19 Pandemic, May 16, 2020, http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/media_center/PReleases/2020/114.asp
IACHR Press Release, La CIDH y su Relatoría Especial para la Libertad de Expresión exhortan al Estado de Colombia a establecer una investigación diligente, oportuna e independiente respecto a las denuncias sobre espionaje ilegal a periodistas, operadores de justicia, personas defensoras de derechos humanos y líderes políticos (Spanish only), May 21, 2020, http://www.oas.org/es/cidh/prensa/comunicados/2020/118.asp
IACHR Press Release, CIDH y sus Relatorías Especiales RELE y REDESCA manifiestan grave preocupación por violaciones al derecho a la información en Nicaragua y sus consecuencias para el acceso a la salud en el marco de la pandemia Covid-19, May 27, 2020, http://www.oas.org/es/cidh/prensa/comunicados/2020/119.asp
IACHR Press Release, La CIDH alerta sobre la crisis sanitaria en la Comunidad Indígena Urbana de Cantagallo, Perú, May 27, 2020, http://www.oas.org/es/cidh/prensa/comunicados/2020/120.asp
IACHR Press Release, Indígenas amazónicos están “en grave riesgo” frente a COVID-19, alertan ONU Derechos Humanos y CIDH, Jun. 4, 2020, http://www.oas.org/es/cidh/prensa/comunicados/2020/126.asp
IACHR Press Release, IACHR Calls for Guarantees for Democracy and the Rule of Law during the COVID-19 Pandemic, Jun. 9, 2020, http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/media_center/PReleases/2020/130.asp
IACHR Press Release, IACHR Announces Calendar of Working Meetings for 176th Period of Sessions and Issues Invitations to Meetings with States and Civil Society, Jun. 18, 2020, http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/media_center/PReleases/2020/140.asp
IACHR Press Release, On the occasion of World Refugee Day, the IACHR observes serious challenges in the comprehensive protection of the rights of refugees and urges States to adopt effective and urgent measures in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, Jun. 20, 2020, http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/media_center/PReleases/2020/142.asp
IACHR Press Release, IACHR Announces 177th Period of Sessions in Online Format and Is Receiving Applications for public hearings, Jun. 30, 2020, http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/media_center/PReleases/2020/154.asp
IACHR Press Release, IACHR Adopts Resolution 4/20 Establishing Inter-American Guidelines on Human Rights of People with COVID-19, Jul. 27, 2020, http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/media_center/PReleases/2020/180.asp (see the Resolution here: http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/decisions/pdf/Resolution-4-20-en.pdf)
IACHR Press Release, La CIDH urge al Estado de Nicaragua a garantizar los derechos de personas nicaragüenses que retornan en el contexto de la pandemia del COVID-19, Jul. 31, 2020, http://www.oas.org/es/cidh/prensa/comunicados/2020/186.asp
IACHR Press Release, IACHR grants precautionary measures in favor of migrants detained at Northwest Detention Center in the United States, Jul. 29, 2020, http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/media_center/PReleases/2020/182.asp
IACHR Press Release, La CIDH manifiesta su preocupación por la situación de las personas privadas de libertad en Brasil, frente a la pandemia del COVID-19, Aug. 8, 2020, http://www.oas.org/es/cidh/prensa/comunicados/2020/195.asp
IACHR Press Release: The Americas: Governments should strengthen, not weaken, environmental protection during COVID-19 pandemic, Aug. 13, 2020, http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/media_center/PReleases/2020/198.asp
IACHR Press Release, States of the Region must Accelerate Universal Internet Access Policies during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Adopt Differentiated Measures to Incorporate Groups in Vulnerable Situations, Aug. 31, 2020, http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/expression/showarticle.asp?lID=1&artID=1182
IACHR Press Release, IACHR Announces 178th Period of Sessions in Online Format and Is Receiving Applications for public hearings, Sept. 1, 2020, http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/media_center/PReleases/2020/210.asp
IACHR Press Release, IACHR concerned about specific risks faced by Persons Deprived of Liberty in the Americas during the COVID-19 pandemic, Sept. 9, 2020, http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/media_center/PReleases/2020/212.asp
IACHR Press Release, IACHR Announces Calendar of Public Hearings for 177th Period of Sessions and Issues Invitations to Meetings with States and Civil Society, Sept. 16, 2020, http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/media_center/PReleases/2020/220.asp
IACHR Press Release, States in the Americas Must Take Urgent Action to Effectively Protect Mental Health and Ensure Universal Access to It in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic, Oct. 2, 2020, http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/media_center/PReleases/2020/243.asp
IACHR Press Release, On the International Day of the Girl Child, the IACHR Urges States to Provide Increased Protection to Girls and Adolescents During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Oct. 11, 2020, http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/media_center/PReleases/2020/250.asp
IACHR Press Release, IACHR Publishes practical guide to ensure respect for the grieving, funeral rites, and memorials of those who died during the COVID-19 pandemic, Oct. 15, 2020, http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/media_center/PReleases/2020/254.asp
IACHR Press Release, IACHR calls on States to guarantee the human rights of women engaged in sex work in the context of the pandemic, Nov. 13, 2020, http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/media_center/PReleases/2020/272.asp
IACHR Press Release, IACHR Announces Calendar of Public Hearings for 178th Period of Sessions, Nov. 20, 2020, http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/media_center/PReleases/2020/279.asp
IACHR Press Release, IACHR Publishes Practical Guide on Access to the Right to Education for Children and Adolescents during the COVID-19 Pandemic, Dec. 16, 2020, http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/media_center/PReleases/2020/301.asp
IACHR Press Release, Migrants must be included in all COVID-19 recovery plans -UN and regional experts, Dec. 17, 2020, http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/media_center/PReleases/2020/303.asp
IACHR Press Release, The IACHR Again Calls on States to Guarantee Human Rights of People Returning to Venezuela during the COVID-19 Pandemic, Dec. 22, 2020, http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/media_center/PReleases/2020/309.asp
IACHR Press Release, La CIDH anuncia su calendario de Períodos Ordinarios de Sesiones para el año 2021, Jan. 5, 2021, http://www.oas.org/es/cidh/prensa/comunicados/2021/001.asp
IACHR Press Release, Joint Declaration on Access to Justice in the Context of the Pandemic, Jan. 27, 2021, http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/jsForm/?File=/en/iachr/media_center/preleases/2021/015.asp
IACHR Press Release, The IACHR Calls on State of Panama to Guarantee Human Rights of Trans and Gender-Diverse People during Partial Restrictions on Mobility during the COVID-19 Pandemic, Feb. 4, 2021, http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/jsForm/?File=/en/iachr/media_center/preleases/2021/024.asp
IACHR Press Release, IACHR and its SRESCER Call on American States to Make Public Health and Human Rights the Focus of All their Decisions and Policies Concerning the COVID-19 Vaccine, Feb. 5, 2021, http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/jsForm/?File=/en/iachr/media_center/preleases/2021/027.asp
IACHR Press Release, International Women’s Day: IACHR Calls on States to Guarantee Principle of Enhanced Due Diligence and Right to Access to Justice During COVID-19 Pandemic, Mar. 8, 2021, http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/jsForm/?File=/en/iachr/media_center/preleases/2021/052.asp
IACHR Press Release, IACHR and Its Special Rapporteurship on Economic, Social, Cultural and Environmental Rights Concerned about the Serious Public Health Situation Regarding COVID-19 in Brazil, Mar. 16, 2021, http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/jsForm/?File=/en/iachr/media_center/preleases/2021/061.asp
IACHR Press Release, The IACHR publishes the Practical Guide How to promote universal access to the Internet during the COVID-19 pandemic?, Mar. 26, 2021, http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/jsForm/?File=/en/iachr/media_center/preleases/2021/074.asp
IACHR Press Release, En conmemoración del “Día Mundial de Toma de Conciencia del Abuso y Maltrato en la Vejez”, la CIDH y su REDESCA recuerdan la importancia de priorizar a las personas mayores en el proceso de vacunación contra el COVID-19, June 15, 2021, http://www.oas.org/es/CIDH/jsForm/?File=/es/cidh/prensa/comunicados/2021/149.asp
IACHR Press Release, IACHR Issues Practical Guide on Protecting Family Unity and Reunification in Human Mobility Contexts during the COVID-19 Pandemic, June 21, 2021, http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/jsForm/?File=/en/iachr/media_center/preleases/2021/154.asp
IACHR Press Release, On World Indigenous Peoples’ Day, IACHR and OSRESCER Urge States to Step Up Their Efforts to Protect Indigenous Peoples’ Territories as an Essential Measure to Protect Nature and Biodiversity, and to Guarantee Their Rights During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Aug. 9, 2021, https://www.oas.org/en/IACHR/jsForm/?File=/en/iachr/media_center/PReleases/2021/207.asp
IACHR Press Release, The IACHR and REDESCA express their concern over the lack of universal and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines in the Americas, calling for regional solidarity with low-income countries, Oct. 25, 2021, https://www.oas.org/en/IACHR/jsForm/?File=/en/iachr/media_center/PReleases/2021/282.asp

Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACtHR)

Note: The IACtHR has created an information hub on COVID-19 and human rights: Centro de Información COVID-19 y Derechos Humanos, which includes links to its own online conferences, infographics, and other outputs, as well as statements from other international bodies.

IACtHR Press Release, Inter-American Court of Human Rights suspends public hearings of the 134^th Regular Session of March 16-20, 2020, Mar. 11, 2020, http://www.corteidh.or.cr/docs/comunicados/cp_15_2020_eng.pdf
IACtHR Press Release, Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos suspende visitas a la sede y servicio de biblioteca, Mar. 13, 2020, http://www.corteidh.or.cr/docs/comunicados/cp_16_2020.pdf
IACtHR Press Release, Inter-American Court of Human Rights Suspends 135^th Regular Session Planned for April 2020, Mar. 16, 2020, http://www.corteidh.or.cr/docs/comunicados/cp_17_2020_eng.pdf
IACtHR Press Release, Inter-American Court of Human Rights Agrees to Suspend Time Limits Due to the Health Emergency Caused by COVID-19, Mar. 17, 2020, http://www.corteidh.or.cr/docs/comunicados/cp_18_2020_eng.pdf
IACtHR Press Release, Suspensión de Proceso de Pasantías mayo-agosto de 2020, Mar. 31, 2020, http://www.corteidh.or.cr/cf/jurisprudencia2/noticias.cfm?n=21&lang=es
IACtHR Press Release, COVID-19 and Human Rights: The Problems and Challenges Must be Addressed from a Human Rights Perspective and with Respect for International Obligations, Apr. 14, 2020, http://www.corteidh.or.cr/docs/comunicados/cp_27_2020_eng.pdf
IACtHR Press Release, Inter-American Court of Human Rights agrees to extend the suspension of time limits due to the health emergency caused by COVID-19, Apr. 17, 2020, http://www.corteidh.or.cr/docs/comunicados/cp_28_2020_eng.pdf
IACtHR et al., COVID-19 y el Derecho a la Salud, http://www.corteidh.or.cr/sitios/libros/todos/docs/infografia-covid.pdf
IACtHR Press Release, Nuevo Cuadernillo de Jurisprudencia de la Corte Interamericana: “Derecho a la salud,” May 19, 2020, http://www.corteidh.or.cr/docs/comunicados/cp_36_2020.pdf
IACtHR Press Release, Inter-American Court of Human Rights resumes accounting of all deadlines, May 20, 2020, http://www.corteidh.or.cr/docs/comunicados/cp_37_2020_eng.pdf
IACtHR Press Release, Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos celebrará 135 Período Ordinario de Sesiones, May 25, 2020, http://www.corteidh.or.cr/docs/comunicados/cp_39_2020.pdf
IACtHR Press Release, Resolución de la Presidenta de la Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos sobre Adopción de Medidas Urgentes en el Caso Vélez Loor Vs. Panamá, May 26, 2020, http://www.corteidh.or.cr/docs/comunicados/cp_40_2020.pdf
IACtHR Press Release, Centro de Información COVID-19 y Derechos Humanos, Jul. 20, 2020, http://www.corteidh.or.cr/docs/comunicados/cp_61_2020.pdf
IACtHR Press Release, Actividades de la Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos en el 135 Período Ordinario de Sesiones, Jul. 24, 2020, http://www.corteidh.or.cr/docs/comunicados/cp_65_2020.pdf
IACtHR Press Release, Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos celebró el 135 Período Ordinario de Sesiones de manera completamente virtual, Jul. 31, 2020, https://www.corteidh.or.cr/docs/comunicados/cp_72_2020.pdf
IACtHR Press Release, Resolución de la Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos de Adopción de Medidas Provisionales en el Caso Vélez Loor Vs. Panamá, Jul. 31, 2020, https://www.corteidh.or.cr/docs/comunicados/cp_68_2020.pdf
IACtHR Press Release, Actividades de la Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos en el 135 , Aug. 5, 2020, https://www.corteidh.or.cr/docs/comunicados/cp_69_2020.pdf
IACtHR Press Release, Corte Interamericana celebró el 136 Período Ordinario de Sesiones, Sept. 4, 2020, https://corteidh.or.cr/comunicados_prensa.cfm?lang=es&n=619

Inter-American Commission of Women (CIM)

CIM has created a dedicated webpage and COVID-19 repository of its resources on the pandemic. The CIM Twitter feed is a source for news and updates on its activities.

Coronavirus: A global pandemic that affects women differently, Mar. 24, 2020, https://us7.campaign-archive.com/?u=f4f9c21ffdd25a4e4ef06e3c2&id=ffa28c4a21
COVID-19 in Women’s Lives: Reasons to Recognize the Differential Impacts, http://www.oas.org/en/cim/docs/ArgumentarioCOVID19-EN.pdf
CIM, Position Paper: Rural women, Agriculture and Sustainable Development in the Americas in the Context of COVID-19 (2020), http://www.oas.org/en/cim/docs/DocumentoPosicion-MujeresRurales-FINAL-EN.pdf
CIM, COVID-19 in Women’s Lives: Reasons to Recognize the Differential Impacts (2020), http://www.oas.org/en/cim/docs/ArgumentarioCOVID19-EN.pdf
CIM, Violence against Women and the Measures to Contain the Spread of COVID-19 (2020), http://www.oas.org/en/cim/docs/COVID-19-RespuestasViolencia-EN.pdf
CIM, COVID-19 in Women’s Lives: The global care emergency (2020), http://www.oas.org/en/cim/docs/CuidadosCOVID19-EN.pdf

Follow-up Mechanism to the Belém do Pará Convention (MESECVI)

Note, like CIM, MESECVI’s website doesn’t have recent news, and it tends to put news out via social media (including Twitter) and only in Spanish.

Comité de Expertas solicita la incorporación de la perspectiva de genero en las medidas que se tomen para la mitigación del COVID-19 y el reforzamiento de acciones para la prevención y atención de la violencia de género, Mar. 18, 2020, https://mailchi.mp/dist/comunicado-covid-19-y-el-reforzamiento-de-acciones-para-la-prevencin-y-atencin-de-la-violencia-de-gnero?e=148d9c4077

Working Group of the Protocol of San Salvador

Nothing so far, although WGPSS provided input to the OAS Practical Guide, listed below.

Organization of American States (OAS)

OAS Press Release, Statement from the OAS General Secretariat on the Situation of Indigenous Peoples during the COVID-19 Crisis, Apr. 3, 2020, https://www.oas.org/en/media_center/press_release.asp?sCodigo=E-029/20
OAS Press Release, OAS Launches Practical Guide to Inclusive Rights-Focused Responses to COVID-10 in the Americas, Apr. 7, 2020, https://www.oas.org/en/media_center/press_release.asp?sCodigo=E-032/20 (guide is, so far, only in Spanish: http://www.oas.org/es/sadye/publicaciones/GUIA_SPA.pdf)
OAS Press Release, OAS Launches Political Action Guide to Address the COVID-19 Pandemic under Democratic Principles, Jun. 2, 2020, https://www.oas.org/en/media_center/press_release.asp?sCodigo=E-057/20 (guide, in Spanish: http://www.oas.org/documents/spa/press/La-CDI-Guia-de-accion-politica-para-la-pandemia-5.28.pdf)

European Human Rights System

Note: see the COE portal on COVID-19 here: https://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/covid-19.

European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR)

Note: None of the ECtHR’s statements deal with States’ human rights obligations in the context of COVID-19; they are all procedural. The ECtHR has noted on its website and in press releases (e.g., http://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng-press?i=003-6711338-8939938) that the Court is holding hearings virtually during the pandemic.

Press Release, ECHR is taking exceptional measures, Mar. 16, 2020, http://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng-press?i=003-6666795-8866184
Press Release, Current activities at the ECHR during the global health crisis, Mar. 27, 2020, http://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng-press?i=003-6670996-8872788
Press Release, Extension of exceptional measures at the ECHR, Apr. 9, 2020, http://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng-press?i=003-6675775-8879937
Press Release, The functioning of the ECHR during the period of confinement, Apr. 15, 2020, http://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng-press?i=003-6677746-8882977
Press Release, Forthcoming hearings in June 2020, Jun. 3, 2020, http://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng-press?i=003-6711338-8939938

European Committee of Social Rights

The ECSR has a webpage on social rights in times of pandemic, which collects its relevant documents.

ECSR Press Release, Suspension of deadlines under the collective complaints procedure, Mar. 25, 2020, https://www.coe.int/en/web/european-social-charter/-/suspension-of-deadlines
ECSR Press Release (and statement of interpretation), European Committee of Social Rights statement on the right to protection of health in times of pandemic crisis, Apr. 22, 2020, https://www.coe.int/en/web/european-social-charter/-/european-committee-of-social-rights-statement-on-the-right-to-protection-of-health-in-times-of-pandemic-crisis
Statement by Giuseppe Palmisano, President of the ECSR, Protection of human life and public health in the context of a pandemic, Jun. 3, 2020, https://rm.coe.int/palmisano-statement-on-protection-of-human-life-and-public-health-in-t/16809e9325 (press release: https://www.coe.int/en/web/european-social-charter/-/the-covid-19-crisis-painfully-revealed-that-preparedness-is-all-about-social-rights)
ECSR Press Release, 313th session of the European Committee of Social Rights by video conference, Jun. 16, 2020, https://www.coe.int/en/web/european-social-charter/-/313th-session-of-the-european-committee-of-social-rights-by-video-conference
ECSR Press Release, 315th session of the European Committee of Social Rights by video conference, 7-11 Sept. 2020, https://www.coe.int/en/web/european-social-charter/-/315th-session-of-the-european-committee-of-social-rights-by-video-conference
ECSR Press Release, The Governmental Committee of the European Social Charter and the European Code of Social Security meets by videoconference, 5-8 Oct. 2020, https://www.coe.int/en/web/european-social-charter/-/the-governmental-committee-of-the-european-social-charter-and-the-european-code-of-social-security-meets-by-videoconference
ECSR Press Release, The role of the State in securing social and economic rights is crucial, especially in times of crisis, 7 Oct. 2020, https://www.coe.int/en/web/european-social-charter/-/the-role-of-the-state-in-securing-social-and-economic-rights-is-crucial-especially-in-times-of-crisis
ECSR Press Release, 316th session of the European Committee of Social Rights, 19-23 Oct. 2020, https://www.coe.int/en/web/european-social-charter/-/316th-session-of-the-european-committee-of-social-rights
ECSR Press Release, 317th session of the European Committee of Social Rights, 7-11 Dec. 2020, https://www.coe.int/en/web/european-social-charter/-/317th-session-of-the-european-committee-of-social-rights

COE Commissioner for Human Rights

Thematic page: https://www.coe.int/en/web/commissioner/thematic-work/covid-19

Statement, We must respect human rights and stand united against the coronavirus pandemic, Mar. 16, 2020, https://www.coe.int/en/web/commissioner/thematic-work/covid-19/-/asset_publisher/5cdZW0AJBMLl/content/we-must-respect-human-rights-and-stand-united-against-the-coronavirus-pandemic
Statement, Older persons need more support than ever in the age of the Covid-19 pandemic, Mar. 20, 2020, https://www.coe.int/en/web/commissioner/thematic-work/covid-19/-/asset_publisher/5cdZW0AJBMLl/content/older-persons-need-more-support-than-ever-in-the-age-of-the-covid-19-pandemic
Statement, Commissioner calls for release of immigration detainees while Covid-19 crisis continues, Mar. 26, 2020, https://www.coe.int/en/web/commissioner/thematic-work/covid-19/-/asset_publisher/5cdZW0AJBMLl/content/commissioner-calls-for-release-of-immigration-detainees-while-covid-19-crisis-continues
Statement, Persons with disabilities must not be left behind in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Apr. 2, 2020, https://www.coe.int/en/web/commissioner/thematic-work/covid-19/-/asset_publisher/5cdZW0AJBMLl/content/persons-with-disabilities-must-not-be-left-behind-in-the-response-to-the-covid-19-pandemic
Statement, Press freedom must not be undermined by measures to counter disinformation about COVID-19, Apr. 3, 2020, https://www.coe.int/en/web/commissioner/thematic-work/covid-19/-/asset_publisher/5cdZW0AJBMLl/content/press-freedom-must-not-be-undermined-by-measures-to-counter-disinformation-about-covid-19
Statement, COVID-19 pandemic: urgent steps are needed to protect the rights of prisoners in Europe, Apr. 6, 2020, https://www.coe.int/en/web/commissioner/thematic-work/covid-19/-/asset_publisher/5cdZW0AJBMLl/content/covid-19-pandemic-urgent-steps-are-needed-to-protect-the-rights-of-prisoners-in-europe
Statement, Governments must ensure equal protection and care for Roma and Travellers during the COVID-19 crisis, Apr. 7, 2020, https://www.coe.int/en/web/commissioner/thematic-work/covid-19/-/asset_publisher/5cdZW0AJBMLl/content/governments-must-ensure-equal-protection-and-care-for-roma-and-travellers-during-the-covid-19-crisis
Statement, Commissioner urges Poland’s Parliament to reject bills that restrict women’s sexual and reproductive health and rights and children’s right to sexuality education, Apr. 14, 2020, https://www.coe.int/en/web/commissioner/thematic-work/covid-19/-/asset_publisher/5cdZW0AJBMLl/content/commissioner-urges-poland-s-parliament-to-reject-bills-that-restrict-women-s-sexual-and-reproductive-health-and-rights-and-children-s-right-to-sexuali
Statement, States should ensure rescue at sea and allow safe disembarkation during the COVID-19 crisis, Apr. 16, 2020, https://www.coe.int/en/web/commissioner/thematic-work/covid-19/-/asset_publisher/5cdZW0AJBMLl/content/states-should-ensure-rescue-at-sea-and-allow-safe-disembarkation-during-the-covid-19-crisis
Human Rights Comment, Learning from the pandemic to better fulfil the right to health, Apr. 23, 2020, https://www.coe.int/en/web/commissioner/-/learning-from-the-pandemic-to-better-fulfil-the-right-to-health
Statement, COVID-19: Ensure women’s access to sexual and reproductive health and rights, May 7, 2020, https://www.coe.int/en/web/commissioner/-/covid-19-ensure-women-s-access-to-sexual-and-reproductive-health-and-rights
COVID-19: The suffering and resilience of LGBT persons must be visible and inform the actions of States – Statement by human rights experts on the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, 14 May 2020, https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=25884&LangID=E
Statement, Lessons to be drawn from the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic in long-term care facilities, 20 May 2020, https://www.coe.int/en/web/commissioner/-/lessons-to-be-drawn-from-the-ravages-of-the-covid-19-pandemic-in-long-term-care-facilities
Speech, States must give a renewed impetus to realising human rights for all, 3 June 2020, https://www.coe.int/en/web/commissioner/-/effectively-responding-to-a-sanitary-crisis-in-full-respect-for-human-rights-and-the-principles-of-democracy-and-the-rule-of-law
Speech, Protecting refugees in Europe: the ECHR and beyond, 22 June 2020, https://www.coe.int/en/web/commissioner/-/protecting-refugees-in-europe-the-echr-and-beyond

Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages

Press Release, COVID-19 crisis: vital that authorities also communicate in regional and minority languages, Mar. 30, 2020, https://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/-/covid-19-crisis-vital-that-authorities-also-communicate-in-regional-and-minority-languages
Press Release, Council experts welcome online learning during pandemic, Jul. 10, 2020, https://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/-/council-experts-welcome-online-learning-during-pandemic

European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT)

Statement of Principles relating to the treatment of persons deprived of their liberty, Mar. 20, 2020, https://www.coe.int/en/web/cpt/-/covid-19-council-of-europe-anti-torture-committee-issues-statement-of-principles-relating-to-the-treatment-of-persons-deprived-of-their-liberty-
Press Release, International Day in Support of Victims of Torture: Detainees Need Protection from COVID-19, Jun. 26, 2020, https://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/-/international-day-in-support-of-victims-of-torture-detainees-need-protection-from-covid-19
Follow-up Statement regarding the situation of persons deprived of their liberty in the context of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic (Jul. 2020), https://rm.coe.int/16809ef566 (See the press release: https://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/-/eradicating-prison-overcrowding-cpt-urges-intensifying-temporary-measures-introduced-to-prevent-covid-19)

European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI)

ECRI webinar on Inclusive Education in Times of Covid-19, Jun. 25, 2020, https://www.coe.int/en/web/european-commission-against-racism-and-intolerance/-/ecri-webinar-on-inclusive-education-in-times-of-covid-19
ECRI holds its 82nd plenary meeting, Jul. 8, 2020, https://www.coe.int/en/web/european-commission-against-racism-and-intolerance/-/ecri-holds-its-82nd-plenary-meeting

Group of States against Corruption (GRECO)

Corruption Risks and Useful Legal References in the context of COVID-19, Apr. 15, 2020, https://www.coe.int/en/web/cpt/-/covid-19-council-of-europe-anti-torture-committee-issues-statement-of-principles-relating-to-the-treatment-of-persons-deprived-of-their-liberty-

Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA)

Statement, In time of emergency the rights and safety of trafficking victims must be respected and protected, Apr. 2, 2020, https://rm.coe.int/greta-statement-covid19-en/16809e126a

Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women (GREVIO)

GREVIO has a dedicated webpage on women’s rights and the pandemic.

Declaration of the Committee of the Parties to the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (Istanbul Convention) on the implementation of the Convention during the COVID-19 pandemic, Apr. 20, 2020, https://rm.coe.int/declaration-committee-of-the-parties-to-ic-covid-/16809e33c6

Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities

Statement on the COVID-19 pandemic and national minorities, 28 May 2020, https://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/-/national-minorities-and-covid-19-inequality-deepened-vulnerability-exacerbated

Council of Europe

Note: see the COE portal on COVID-19 here: https://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/covid-19.

Press Release, Secretary General writes to Viktor Orban regarding COVID-19 state of emergency in Hungary, Mar. 24, 2020, https://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/-/secretary-general-writes-to-victor-orban-regarding-covid-19-state-of-emergency-in-hungary (Read the letter here: https://rm.coe.int/orban-pm-hungary-24-03-2020/16809d5f04)
Press Release, COVID-19 crisis: Secretary General concerned about increased risk of domestic violence, Mar. 30, 2020, https://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/-/covid-19-crisis-secretary-general-concerned-about-increased-risk-of-domestic-violence
Press Release, COVID-19 confinement: States must step up protection of children against sexual exploitation and abuse says Lanzarote committee, Apr. 7, 2020, https://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/-/covid-19-confinement-states-must-step-up-protection-of-children-against-sexual-exploitation-and-abuse-says-lanzarote-committee
Information Document: Respecting democracy, rule of law and human rights in the framework of the COVID-19 sanitary crisis, Apr. 8, 2020, https://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/-/coronavirus-guidance-to-governments-on-respecting-human-rights-democracy-and-the-rule-of-law (Read the full statement here: https://rm.coe.int/sg-inf-2020-11-respecting-democracy-rule-of-law-and-human-rights-in-th/16809e1f40)
Joint Statement, Step up human rights protections for Roma and guarantee their access to vital services during the COVID-19 pandemic, Apr. 8, 2020, https://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/-/8-april-international-roma-day-step-up-human-rights-protection-for-roma-and-guarantee-their-access-to-vital-services-during-covid-19-pandemic-
Committee on Bioethics Statement, COVID-19: Human rights principles must guide health decisions, Apr. 14, 2020, https://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/-/covid-19-human-rights-principles-must-guide-health-decisions
COE, Emergency powers – what standards?, https://www.coe.int/en/web/human-rights-rule-of-law/venice-commission-covid19
Chair of the Committee of Convention 108 and COE Data Protection Commissioner, Joint Statement on Digital Contact Tracing, Apr. 28, 2020, https://rm.coe.int/covid19-joint-statement-28-april/16809e3fd7
COE & FRA, Fundamental rights of refugees, asylum applicants and migrants at the European borders (2020), https://fra.europa.eu/sites/default/files/fra_uploads/fra-coe-2020-european-law-land-borders_en.pdf
European Commission for Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ), Declaration on lessons learnt and Challenges faced by the judiciary during and after the Covid-19 Pandemic, Jun. 10, 2020, https://rm.coe.int/declaration-en/16809ea1e2
COE Committee on Bioethics, Strategic Action Plan on Human Rights and Technologies in Biomedicine (2020-2025), https://rm.coe.int/strategic-action-plan-final-e/16809c3af1
Consultative Council of European Judges (CCJE), Statement of the President of the CCJE: The role of judges during and in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic – lessons and challenges, Jun. 24, 2020, https://rm.coe.int/ccje-2020-2-statement-of-the-ccje-president-3-lessons-and-challenges-c/16809ed060
COE, How should judges respond to Covid-19 challenges and what lessons should they learn?, Jun. 30, 2020, https://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/-/how-should-judges-respond-to-covid-19-challenges-and-what-lessons-should-they-learn-

OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR)

Note: See the ODIHR COVID-19 webpage here: https://www.osce.org/odihr/covid-19

Press Release, Newly declared states of emergency must include a time limit and parliamentary oversight, OSCE human rights head says, Mar. 30, 2020, https://www.osce.org/odihr/449311
Press Release, Protection from domestic violence urgently needed for women and children under stay-at-home orders, say OSCE officials, Apr. 2, 2020, https://www.osce.org/secretariat/449515
Press Release, Genuine campaigning and public debate are vital for democratic elections, OSCE human rights head says, Apr. 7, 2020, https://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/449695
Press Release, Persistent Roma inequality increases COVID-19 risk, human rights heads say, Apr. 7, 2020, https://www.osce.org/odihr/449668
Press Release, Inclusion and not hatred needed to overcome the common crisis we face, Apr. 17, 2020, https://www.osce.org/node/450310
Press Release (with EU Agency for Fundamental Rights), Persistent inequality increases COVID-19 risk, human rights heads say, Apr. 7, 2020, https://fra.europa.eu/en/news/2020/persistent-roma-inequality-increases-covid-19-risk-human-rights-heads-say
ODIRH & APT, Guidance: Monitoring Places of Detention through the COVID-19 Pandemic (2020), https://www.osce.org/files/f/documents/7/5/453543.pdf

European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA)

Note: See the FRA webpage on COVID-19 here: https://fra.europa.eu/en/themes/covid-19. The country-specific reports on mitigation efforts and their rights impacts can be found here: https://fra.europa.eu/en/publication/2020/covid19-rights-impact-april-1#TabPubStudies.

Press Release (with ODIHR), Persistent inequality increases COVID-19 risk, human rights heads say, Apr. 7, 2020, https://fra.europa.eu/en/news/2020/persistent-roma-inequality-increases-covid-19-risk-human-rights-heads-say
FRA Bulletin #1: Coronavirus Pandemic in the EU: Fundamental Rights Implications, 1 Feb.-20 Mar. 2020, https://fra.europa.eu/sites/default/files/fra_uploads/fra-2020-coronavirus-pandemic-eu-bulletin_en.pdf
COE & FRA, Fundamental rights of refugees, asylum applicants and migrants at the European borders (2020), https://fra.europa.eu/sites/default/files/fra_uploads/fra-coe-2020-european-law-land-borders_en.pdf
FRA Bulletin #2: Coronavirus Pandemic in the EU: Fundamental Rights Implications – with a Focus on Contact Tracing Apps, 28 May 2020, https://fra.europa.eu/en/publication/2020/covid19-rights-impact-may-1
FRA Bulletin #4: Coronavirus pandemic in the EU: Fundamental Rights Implications – with a Focus on Older People, 31 May 2020, https://fra.europa.eu/en/publication/2020/covid19-rights-impact-june-1
FRA Bulletin #4: Coronavirus pandemic in the EU: Fundamental Rights Implications, 29 Jul. 2020, https://fra.europa.eu/en/publication/2020/covid19-rights-impact-july-1

Southeast Asia

ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR)

Press Release on COVID-19 by the AICHR, May 1, 2020, https://aichr.org/news/press-release-on-coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-by-the-asean-intergovernmental-commission-on-human-rights-aichr/
Press Release 31st Meeting of the AICHR, 9-10 June 2020, Video Conference, Jun. 11, 2020, https://aichr.org/news/press-release-31st-meeting-of-the-aichr-9-10-june-2020-video-conference/
Press Release Special Meeting 01/2020 of the AICHR, 25-27 August 2020, Video Conference, Aug. 27, 2020, https://aichr.org/news/press-release-special-meeting-01-2020-of-the-aichr-25-27-august-2020-video-conference/

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

ASEAN’s statements related to COVID-19 have mostly discussed regional cooperation on policy responses, logistics, and medical expertise – without significant reference to human rights. It has held a series of webinars on ensuring the rights of persons with disabilities in pandemic responses.

Press Release, ASEAN calls for protective and preventive measures against domestic violence towards women and children during COVID-19 pandemic, Jun. 5, 2020, https://asean.org/asean-calls-protective-preventive-measures-domestic-violence-towards-women-children-covid-19-pandemic/
Joint Statement of the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Social Welfare and Development Mitigating Impacts of COVID-19 on Vulnerable Groups in ASEAN, Jun. 10, 2020, https://asean.org/joint-statement-asean-ministerial-meeting-social-welfare-development-mitigating-impacts-covid-19-vulnerable-groups-asean/ (full statement here)

Middle East and North Africa

Arab Human Rights Committee

The Arab Human Rights Committee does not appear to have made any public statements on COVID-19, but on it has shared written and oral statements of its Chairperson on Twitter. For example, on March 18, Mohamed Al-Dahi emphasized the importance of abiding by the Arab Charter on Human Rights in States’ responses to the pandemic, including in their declarations of public emergencies. On May 10, Al-Dahi issued a press release, via Twitter, on this topic. These statements are in Arabic.

League of Arab States

Press Release, Aboul Gheit sends messages to a number of international officials about the gravity of the situation in Palestine in light of the Corona epidemic (translated via Google), Apr. 13, 2020, http://www.leagueofarabstates.net/ar/news/Pages/NewsDetails.aspx?RID=2422
Press Release, Aboul Gheit warns of a humanitarian catastrophe in the Syrian refugee camps, Apr. 15, 2020, http://www.leagueofarabstates.net/ar/news/Pages/NewsDetails.aspx?RID=2424

Acronyms

Thematic Overview

General duties and considerations

States of emergency and exception

Right to protection of health

Access to information & media freedom

Persons deprived of liberty

Discrimination and xenophobia

Gender-based violence and women’s rights

Children’s rights

Rights of persons with disabilities

Rights of migrants, asylum seekers, refugees and IDPs

Rights of older persons

Rights of Indigenous peoples

Rights of LGBTI Persons

Use of force

Economic and social rights, inequality & poverty

Workers’ Rights

Sanctions, debt & solidarity

Rule of law (independence of judiciary, elections, democracy)

Human rights defenders & assembly and association

Conflict & International Humanitarian Law

United Nations

Human Rights Council

Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

Special Procedures

Treaty Bodies

Secretary General & Special Envoys

UN General Assembly

Various UN Agencies

UNHCR

ILO

UNDESA

EMRIP

UN Women

African Human Rights System

African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR)

African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC)

African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (AfCHPR)

African Union

Inter-American Human Rights System

Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR)

Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACtHR)

Inter-American Commission of Women (CIM)

Follow-up Mechanism to the Belém do Pará Convention (MESECVI)

Working Group of the Protocol of San Salvador

Organization of American States (OAS)

European Human Rights System

European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR)

European Committee of Social Rights

COE Commissioner for Human Rights

Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages

European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT)

European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI)

Group of States against Corruption (GRECO)

Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA)

Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women (GREVIO)

Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities

Council of Europe

OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR)

European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA)

Southeast Asia

ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR)

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

Middle East and North Africa

Arab Human Rights Committee

League of Arab States