UN EXPERT MECHANISM ON THE RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES RELEASES STATEMENT ON COVID-19

COVID-19 yet another challenge for indigenous peoples: Statement by the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP) is available at the UN’s web page on COVID-19 and indigenous people at https://www.un.org/development/desa/indigenouspeoples/covid-19.html

From the statement:

The spread of COVID -19 has and will continue to exacerbate an already critical situation for many indigenous peoples:a situation where inequalities and discrimination already abound.The rise innational recessionsand the real possibility of a world depression are set to aggravate the situation further,bringingfear that many indigenous peopleswill die, not onlyfrom the virus itself but alsofrom conflicts and violence, linked to the scarcity of resources, especially drinking water and food.