Indigenous realities in a COVID-19 world: Asia

The fast-spreading COVID-19 poses much higher health risks to Indigenous Peoples, Persons with Disability, elders and women making them the most vulnerable groups. These groups not only face challenges in accessing information on time and in their own language; but also, of discrimination and deprivation of basic health services.

 

 

 

As though COVID-19 is not harsh enough, we are also seeing the darker side of human society. Indigenous Peoples are battling against racial discrimination, criminalization and stereotyping and COVID-19 makes it worse.

"Our battle is multi-fold and we will find the solution to COVID-19 soon but not to our humanity", said Gam A. Shimray, Secretary General, Asia Indigenous Peoples (AIPP). "Racial discrimination, criminalization and destruction of the forests will continue", he added.