Take Action for Human Rights

Demand the U.S. Government Protect the Human Rights of All People in Its Response to COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic is impacting all of us around the country and around the world. It’s an unsettling time filled with concerns, challenges, and anxieties, but it’s also revealed how interconnected we are in a very personal way.

In trying times like these, the best of humanity can rise. We may be physically distant at the moment, but we remain united. Together, we will get through this.

Right now, we have the opportunity to help end demonization and anger, and move forward with empathy and kindness.

All people can get COVID-19, but some, including marginalized groups and those most at risk, can be disproportionately impacted and face additional challenges in accessing care. We must ensure that the U.S. government protects the human rights of all people, including the right to health, and supports them in all stages of this crisis.

No one should be left behind, or treated as an afterthought. Respecting human rights is not a luxury that can only be afforded once the threat to public health has been minimized.

The U.S. should set a standard for the rest of the world by putting the protection of human rights — including to health, safety, security — at the center of its response to the pandemic.

⬇ Make Your Voice Heard ⬇

Vice President Mike Pence

Mike

Pence

Covid 19 Task Force

Secretary

Alex

Azar

Secretary of Health and Human Services

Assistant to the Presiden

Robert

O'Brien

Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs Robert O’Brien

Deputy Secretary of State

Stephen Biegun

Biegun

Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun

Assistant to the Presiden

Matthew

Pottinger

Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Advisor Matthew Pottinger

Assistant to the Presiden

Rob

Blair

Assistant to the President and Senior Advisor to the Chief of Staff Rob Blair

Assistant to the Presiden

Christopher

Liddell

Assistant to the President and Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Coordination Christopher Liddell

National Economic Council

Larry

Kudlow

National Economic Council Director Larry Kudlow

Secretary of the Treasury

Steven

Mnuchin

Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin

Centers for Medicare and

Seema

Verma

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Seema Verma

Attorney General William

William

Barr

Attorney General William Barr

National Institutes of He

Dr. Francis

Collins

National Institutes of Health Director Dr. Francis Collins

Office of Science and Tec

Kelvin

Droegemeier

Office of Science and Technology Policy Director Kelvin Droegemeier

Director of the Centers

Dr. Robert

Redfield

Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Dr. Robert Redfield

Director of the National

Dr. Anthony

Fauci

Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Dr. Anthony Fauci

Acting Deputy Secretary o

Ken

Cuccinelli

Acting Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Ken Cuccinelli

Secretary of Vertan Affai

Robert

Wilkie

Secretary of Vertan Affairs Robert Wilkie

Secretary of Housing and

Ben

Carson

Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Dr. Ben Carson

Commissioner of Food and

Dr. Stephen

Hahn

Commissioner of Food and Drugs Dr. Stephen Hahn

Acting Under Secretary

Joel

Szabat

Acting Under Secretary for Policy, Department of Transportation Joel Szabat

Assistant to the Presiden

Joseph

Grogan

Assistant to the President and Director of the Domestic Policy Council Joseph Grogan

Surgeon General Dr. Jerom

Dr. Jerome

Adams

Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams

Acting DHS Secretary

Chad

Wolf

DHS

Office of Management and

Derek

Kan

Office of Management and Budget Executive Associate Director Derek Kan

Coronavirus Response Coor

Dr. Deborah

Birx

Coronavirus Response Coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx

Dear Members of the Coronavirus Task Force:

As members of President Trump’s Coronavirus Task Force, I urge you to exercise your authority to ensure that the administration protects the human rights of all people, including the right to health, as governmental authorities at the federal, state, tribal, and local level respond to the humanitarian and public health challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The response to COVID-19 has the potential to affect the human rights of millions of people, and human rights must be centered at all stages of the crisis – prevention, preparedness, containment, and treatment – in order to best protect public health and support people who are most at risk of adverse impacts.

Respecting human rights is not a luxury that can only be afforded once the threat to public health has been minimized. Human rights violations hinder, rather than facilitate, responses to public health emergencies, and undercut their efficiency.

I call on the U.S. government to ensure that all responses to the COVID-19 pandemic are compliant with international human rights law and standards, taking into account the specific needs of marginalized groups and people and those most at risk, and to address and mitigate the specific human rights risks associated with any particular response.

Specifically, I urge you to ensure that the U.S. government:

- Provides accurate, timely, and science-based information about how people can protect themselves, and acts aggressively to correct misinformation;
- Provides free testing for all persons who request it, and that any goods and services necessary for prevention, diagnosis, care, vaccines, and cures are available, affordable, and accessible to all persons without discrimination;
- Ensures that psychosocial support is available for potential mental health consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent containment measures;
- Fully accounts in its plans and strategies for the needs of people adversely impacted and marginalized groups – including, but not limited to, migrant workers, people in precarious or insecure employment including in the “gig” economy, undocumented immigrants, persons with disabilities, people who are incarcerated or held in immigration detention, Indigenous Peoples, people working in the informal sector, people living in poverty, people who are homeless, people without access to adequate water and safe sanitation, people with chronic health conditions, older persons, and people who are pregnant;
- Includes a gender analysis in all response efforts to ensure that the rights of women, girls, and gender non-conforming people are protected and that they receive appropriate support;
- Ensures that all people have access to social support that enables security and dignity, including through paid sick leave, health care, and parental leave where people are unable to work because of the COVID-19 pandemic;
- Ensures that a person’s race, ethnicity, nationality, immigration status, or actual or perceived health status is not a barrier to accessing care or subjects them to harassment, ostracism, racism, or other stigmatization;
- Takes concrete, deliberate, and targeted measures to address and prevent discrimination and stigma, protect all individuals from mistreatment, and prevent scapegoating of individuals or groups; and
- Ensures there is adequate equipment, training, and support for health workers and other workers facing a higher risk of exposure, as well as mechanisms in place to guarantee support for the families of health workers and others who have died or become ill as a consequence of exposure to COVID-19.

At this time of great uncertainty, I call on THE administration to lead by protecting the health, safety, security, and other human rights of all people.

Respectfully,

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