On Friday, 17th April 2020, The UN (United Nations) advised countries to protect LGBT+ people against discrimination when seeking health care during the pandemic.
In a statement released on the same day, The UN said that LGBTQ+ people may be particularly vulnerable during the COVID-19 pandemic; many of whom are homeless, live with compromised immune systems, or HIV/AIDS.
The report released by the UN released a list of recommendations, actions that nations can take to protect LGBTQ+ people in this period. One recommendation emphasized that nations should not use states of emergency or other emergency measures to roll back existing rights and guarantees that apply to LGBTI people. According to Thomson Reuters, Efforts to halt the spread of the virus have forced the closing of many LGBT+ centres that often provide health care in the US. Many other Africans have also been victims of arrests and persecution.
The other recommendations by the UN in the statement are:
- Specific efforts should be made to ensure that LGBTI people are not subjected to discrimination or fear retribution for seeking healthcare. Health services that are particularly relevant to LGBTI people should not be deprioritized on a discriminatory basis;
- Measures to address the socio-economic impacts of the pandemic should consider the particular vulnerabilities of the LGBTI people, including older persons and the homeless, and ensure that LGBTI people are fully covered;
- Political leaders and other influential figures should speak out against stigmatization and hate speech directed at the LGBTI people in the context of the pandemic.
- Shelters, support services and other measures to address gender-based violence during the COVID-19 pandemic should take steps to include the LGBTI population.
- Measures restricting movement should provide protection for trans and gender non-conforming persons. Law enforcement officials should be instructed and trained not to discriminate against this population.
At the time of writing this, over 2 million infections, over 500 thousand recoveries, and over 150 thousand deaths have been recorded.
