COVID-19, Migration and Human Rights: Impacts and Solutions
Facilitator: Dr Gianna Sanchez Moretti, international human rights and education specialist. Current Academic Director of the Virtual Learning Division at the CEPA Foundation. Panelists: -Monette Zard, Forced Migration and Health, Population and Family Health Associate Professor, Program on Forced Migration and Health Director, Columbia University Medical Center -Felipe González Morales, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants -Rohini Deshmukh, External Relations Officer, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees -Francisco Alfonzo, Associate Human Rights Officer, Special Procedures Branch, United Nations Human Rights Office Roberta Petrucci, Médecins Sans Frontières, Medical coordinator for COVID-19 response in Switzerland Andrés Boscán, Asociación Salto Ángel, NGO in Colombia supporting the Venezuelan migrant population in the border region The panelists discussed the following points: Migrant populations at risk of being left furthest behind and how a human rights approach can help mitigate these risks. The human rights framework for the protection of migrants as a fundamental pillar in responding to and recovering from the COVID-19 crisis. Examples of responses to the COVID-19 emergency for migrant and refugee populations and challenges and solutions implemented by various actors. Resources shared during this webinar: · Columbia University's Institute for the Study of Human Rights Human Rights and Social Justice Training Series: https://bit.ly/3gtQAJd · This live expert panel is a special session open to the public, and is part of Module 2 on COVID-19, migration and human rights of our virtual training workshop "Migration and Human Rights". For more information about this topic in particular, check out a special podcast episode through the link in the chat below: https://bit.ly/2PodiGJ · Human Mobility and Human Rights in the Covid-19 Pandemic: 14 Principles of Protection for Migrants, Refugees, and Other Displaced Persons: https://bit.ly/2XqU9Z4 · United Nations Human Rights Office, Joint Guidance Note on the Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Human Rights of Migrants: https://bit.ly/3kemyLB · United Nations Refugee Agency - COVID-19 Platform: Temporary Measures and Impact on Protection: https://bit.ly/31mrchZ · United Nations Refugee Agency - Key Legal Considerations on access to territory for persons in need of international protection in the context of the COVID-19 response: https://bit.ly/3gt3ffz · United Nations Human Rights Office, Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, Deliberation No. 5 on deprivation of liberty of migrants: https://bit.ly/2BZ5TdP · United Nations Human Rights Office, Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, “Deliberation No. 11 on prevention of arbitrary deprivation of liberty in the context of public health emergencies” (May 2020): https://bit.ly/3gFFgtm · Asociación Salto Ángel - COVID-19 response: https://bit.ly/2Po2kBd · For further reading on Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) activities: MSF response to COVID-19: https://www.msf.org/covid-19-depth COVID-19 and People on the Move: https://bit.ly/2Dk8Czf Libya: https://bit.ly/31juKBF Greece: https://bit.ly/2DnJYh0 Syria: https://bit.ly/30qev6L · On the principle of non-refoulement (beyond international refugees law framework), refer to these resources: The principle of non-refoulement under international human rights law: https://bit.ly/39WjgId What do we mean by ‘protection’ for migrants?: https://bit.ly/3i8Y7xv Historic UN Human Rights case opens door to climate change asylum claims (2020): https://bit.ly/3k9JSdv Deportation is an unworkable solution for migration (2018): https://bit.ly/39XPJy8 Committee against Torture discusses revised General Comment on non-refoulement with States and civil society (2017): https://bit.ly/3gtsoqd Majority fleeing Venezuela in need of refugee protection – UNHCR (2019): https://bit.ly/2ELJqlr Guidance Note on International Protection Considerations for Venezuelans (2019): https://bit.ly/2XJFwR1
