ADDRESSING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND ITS IMPACT ON MIGRANTS Undocumented people in Europe are among those most exposed to COVID-19, and among the least protected. At PICUM we have put together a webpage which gathers statements and resources from civil society organisations and international agencies to alleviate the negative effects of the pandemic on migrant communities and those who help them. The webpage includes our call to protect undocumented people, including through prolonged residence permits, an end to detention and a moratorium on deportation, and safe access to health care for all. Calls to protect migrants from the pandemic have also come from a joint statement from international organisations - the World Health Organisation, the UN Human Rights Office, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, and the International Organisation for Migration. The UN Rapporteur on Trafficking in Human Beings and the UN Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants called on governments to adopt urgent measures to protect migrants and trafficked persons in their response to COVID-19. The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights further called on Council of Europe countries to release people who cannot be returned from immigration detention and to protect their health against the virus. The European Web Site on Integration has also published a new webpage on the impact of COVID-19 on migrant communities. The webpage has a number of examples of local initiatives on migrant community outreach, protection and living conditions, residence and work permits, social connection and language learning, as well as some country-specific resources and news. Our April newsletter includes further highlights in the different thematic sections regarding measures taken by governments to support undocumented people in this pandemic, and outstanding challenges for this population. |