A/HRC/45/8 6. Minority groups, indigenous peoples and people affected by caste-based discrimination 37. Ethnic, racial, religious and linguistic minorities are particularly vulnerable to contemporary forms of slavery due to discrimination, marginalization, economic inequalities and poverty, lack of access to social protection and obstacles in accessing justice. Although data about the impact of COVID-19 on these groups is limited at this stage, there is emerging evidence of increased risks.50 38. In many countries, people from marginalized racial and ethnic minority groups are employed in high numbers in transport, health and cleaning sectors that carry an increased risk of contracting COVID-19, particularly when employers fail to provide protective equipment or introduce adequate safety measures.51 39. Some countries have witnessed an increase in discrimination and violence against minority groups, such as Roma communities in Europe52 and Dalits in Nepal.53 In India, COVID-19 measures forced more than 100 million internal migrant workers, many of whom belong to minorities and certain castes, to travel long distances home. 54 In addition to being exposed to economic deprivation and indebtedness, many were reportedly subjected to police brutality and stigmatized as virus “carriers”.55 40. Elsewhere, individuals trapped in situations of contemporary forms of slavery, who are economically dependent on their exploiters, are at risk of being “let go” as there is less need for their work during lockdowns. While this may provide an opportunity for victims to leave situations of slavery, it also puts them at risk of extreme poverty, starvation and illness.56 This is a particular concern in States where survivors of contemporary forms of slavery have limited or no access to justice and remedies, including rehabilitation services. For example, in considering the situation in Mauritania, the ILO Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations noted that the International Trade Union Confederation had observed that “persons considered as belonging to the slave caste, but who no longer live in slavery, are victims of stigmatization and discrimination and are marginalized both economically and politically”.57 Without proper victim assistance and rehabilitation support, those phenomena are likely to lead to significant long-term consequences for the individuals left behind. 41. Concerns have also been raised about the precarious situation of indigenous peoples and people of African descent in Latin America. In Mexico, members of Afro-Mexican communities and indigenous groups were facing discrimination, marginalization and forced labour before the outbreak (CERD/C/MEX/CO/18-21, para. 16). Currently, they are exposed to food shortages and further deprivation.58 In Ecuador, reports indicate worsening living and working conditions for many members of Afro-Ecuadorian communities, employed in farms run by the Furukawa company, which produces abaca fibre. Those 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 Information received from civil society organization, Umeed Partnership, Pakistan. See also European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, Coronavirus pandemic in the EU – fundamental rights implications: with a focus on contact-tracing apps, bulletin # 2 (Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2020), p. 37. Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), “Disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on racial and ethnic minorities needs to be urgently addressed – Bachelet”, press release, 2 June 2020; and submission from Nagorik Uddyok Citizen’s Initiative, Bangladesh. European Union Fundamental Rights Agency, “Persistent Roma inequality increases COVID-19 risk, human rights heads say”, press release, 7 April 2020. OHCHR, “Nepal: Bachelet condemns Dalit killings, calls for independent investigation”, press release, 29 May 2020. OHCHR, “COVID-19: urgent help for India’s forgotten migrant workers must follow Supreme Court ruling, say UN experts”, press release, 4 June 2020. Submission from Anti-Slavery International, p. 5. Ibid., p. 4. Observation (CEACR) – adopted in 2017, published at 107th ILC session (2018), Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29) – Mauritania. Submission from Instituto Nacional de los Pueblos Indígenas, Mexico, p. 3. 9