Webinar by United African Congress on Africa and COVID-10: Human Rights: Racism and Discrimination and Stigma: Dr Judy speaks on panel of experts

CONCEPT PAPER:   COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN AFRICA: Stopping the Spread and the Panic

United African Congress announces second in webinar series about COVID-19 in Africa. April 30 webinar to address: Racism, Discrimination, Xenophobia and Human Rights Violations in the Era of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Times of natural disasters and worldwide crises, such as is happening now with the current COVID-19 pandemic, can bring out the best in humanity. Indeed, it is being shown that people around the world are coming together to help one another. Countless stories of caring and sharing abound as testimony to our common humanity.Neighbors come to the aid of neighbors and strangers help others they never knew, in prevalent heroic and selfless acts of human kindness, bringing food, doing errands for the sick and the elderly living alone. Frontline health workers and those providing essential services put in endless hours and devotion to keep others safe and healthy.

Dr. Bruce Aylward, Deputy Director-General of the World Health Organization, makes that point, saying, “We have to think that we have to work together as a human species to be organized to care for one another, to realize that the health of the most vulnerable people among us is a determining factor for the health of all of us, and, if we aren’t prepared to do that, we’ll never, ever be prepared to confront these devastating challenges to our humanity.”

Yet, such cataclysmic events sadly can also bring out negative behaviors and attitudes. Such a reaction that is particularly disturbing is the scapegoating of a particular group of people based on race, ethnicity, religion, or any other group characteristics. Public health emergencies in particular can trigger targeting specific groups of people based on no scientific evidence. Examples include the stigmatization of Haitians in the United States in the early days of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, of Africans during the Ebola epidemic of 2014-2016, and of East Asians during this current pandemic.

Such stigmatization and discrimination cannot be tolerated.  It is apparent to all by now that COVID-19, the novel coronavirus which has touched practically every corner of our planet, knows no borders, does not discriminate, and affects any peoples. Pathogenic microorganisms have no country, race or ethnicity. The saying that “We are all in this together” should not be a hollow slogan but a call to collective action in solidarity to combat this common scourge.

The current pandemic continues its relentless killing spree across the globe, claiming tens of thousands of innocent lives, destroying individual livelihoods and the economies of many nations.  People of all backgrounds are affected, from workers to CEOs and world leaders.  Yet, some groups are particularly vulnerable and targeted.  These include migrant workers, particularly who are African, who have become prey to victimization by others in countries around the globe.

Destructive racism and xenophobia are manifesting in countries as divergent as China, Italy and the Middle East. The media has revealed video footage of Africans, in Guangzhou, China, being locked in their apartments, or worse, forcibly evicted from their homes and hotels, and forcibly quarantined. Restaurants have displayed signs that Blacks are not allowed entry. This was in one case triggerdy the fact that five Nigerians tested positive for the Coronavirus. China has since apologized in response to protests from Africans in the Diaspora as well as some countries in Africa.

While these discriminatory acts may be borne of fear of the unknown, or amplified by fears and ignorance, or by reports of cases, there are no excuses for the cruel treatment, blaming, ostracizing, and abusing others. 

In recognition of this imperative to be kind to others, and to refute and refuse the opposite, that of racism, xenophobia and discrimination, the United African Congress is hosting their next webinar on this topic, in the series about COVID-19 in AFRICA. Our upcoming webinar is scheduled for 30 April. We will explore the status of the corona pandemic in Africa and in the Caribbean, and ways to mitigate the resulting present health and economic catastrophe and move forward for a better world. Speakers include representatives from media, government, human rights, media and public health advocates.