Yesterday, 8 March, the United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner released a statement on equitable access to Covid-19 vaccines for migrants.
“All migrants should be included in Covid-19 vaccination programmes regardless of their nationality and migration status,” read the guidance notes in part.
The statement was drafted by experts from the UN as well us representatives of human rights systems from Africa and Europe.
Experts have insisted that the vaccine registration should not be used to collect daya about a person’s migration status. The statement was also shared with the immigration enforcement authorities around the globe.
The guidance note was a joint statement by the UN Committee on Migrant Workers (CMW) regional human rights experts, Special Rapporteur on the Human rights of migrants and the Office of the High Commissioner for human rights. The notes contain 6 proposals on vaccine distribution.
State are urged to take into account the needs, vulnerabilities and risks of those migrants who are exposed to Covid-19 when drawing their list on whom to prioritize.
All migrants must have access to the vaccine at the same levels as the nationals and they should not be penalized for coming out for the vaccines.
Read the complete guidance notes here.
GOT a story? Contact Kerosi Dotcom on EMAIL info@kerosi.com
