Viruses don’t discriminate, but systems and policies do. Neoliberalism and unchecked corporate power have led to extreme wealth inequality. Rising authoritarianism, nationalism, militarization, and extremisms have intensified attacks on human rights, democracy, and information. White supremacy, racism, xenophobia, occupation, colonialism, and settler violence, intersect with patriarchy, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, ageism, and other discriminatory systems, threatening the lives and security of marginalized groups. Across every region, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated these inequities.
Corporations and elites are consolidating their power and states are using the pandemic as an excuse to increase repression and surveillance, erode human rights, and persecute human rights defenders. Women, trans, and gender non-conforming human rights defenders – especially those who face intersecting forms of discrimination and violence – are particularly at risk, both because they are disproportionately impacted by the pandemic and because they are disproportionately targeted for attacks and excluded from decision-making.
The following is a summary of global trends the Urgent Action Funds (UAFs) are currently witnessing as part of the COVID-19 pandemic