ABSTRACT
Many minorities and indigenous peoples lived in precarious situations prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. This chapter assesses how emergency measures introduced by governments to curb the spread of COVID-19 led to an increased risk of infection, unemployment and forced labour for minorities and indigenous peoples across the world. Discriminatory and extreme policing of these communities as a mode to enforce these measures is also analysed. While governments have introduced support packages to mitigate impacts, this chapter examines the extent to which social protection measures were inclusive and responsive to the specific challenges faced by minorities and indigenous peoples. As states’ focus shifted to COVID-19 vaccine supply and distribution, key issues arose in relation to equitable access to, and uptake of, vaccines by minorities and indigenous peoples. The chapter argues that the experience of minorities and indigenous peoples during COVID-19 was rife with deep inequalities in the enjoyment of economic and social rights in comparison to majority societies. The chapter concludes by offering ways forward, including the need to guarantee universal health coverage for all and emphasising the importance of featuring the experiences of minorities and indigenous peoples in the design and implementation of mitigation measures.
