Every 21 March, the Commission of Human Rights (CHR) marks the commemoration of the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. This year, 2020, we are reminding everyone about fighting racism in the age of coronavirus.

Over the past several months, racist sentiments and xenophobia around the world spiked in the context of the outbreak of the Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19). Several reports have emerged of discrimination and stigma against people perceived to be from certain countries or ethnicities.

As UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet puts it, “Like COVID-19, racism and xenophobia are contagious killers.”

We should not tolerate any harassing, racist and discriminatory remarks, and acts of violence against anyone. The principles of equality and non-discrimination contained in different human rights instruments must remain central to how we respond to this global pandemic. Every individual’s right to non-discrimination is an immediate and crosscutting obligation and applies to the exercise of each and every human right guaranteed in both national and international laws.

At the institutional and individual levels, we should adopt measures to address widespread stigmatisation of persons on the basis of their ethnicity and race, especially in this time of public health emergency, as this can undermine their ability to enjoy their basic human rights.

The Commission is in full support of the government in ensuring that all healthcare services related to COVID-19 are provided without discrimination, especially to vulnerable populations more at risk of contacting serious illness as a result of COVID-19.

The CHR enjoins everyone in this trying time to work in solidarity in combating fear and paranoia. COVID-19 is the enemy. Instead of spreading hate (and the disease), we must always treat everyone with respect and compassion. ###