Pandemic Led to Rise In Child Abuse, Racism: European Union Rights Agency

The EU rights agency said marginalised groups lost jobs due to COVID-19 lockdown and were more exposed to racist and xenophobic incidents.

The coronavirus pandemic has had an unprecedented and profound effect on human rights, fuelling racism and child abuse, the European Union (EU)'s rights agency said Thursday in its annual report. "The pandemic and the reactions it triggered exacerbated existing challenges and inequalities in all areas of life, especially affecting vulnerable groups," a report by the Vienna-based Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) said. "It also sparked an increase in racist incidents," the FRA added, calling the pandemic's effects on rights "profound". Marginalised groups such as Roma, refugees and migrants were not only at higher risk of contamination, but also lost jobs owing to strict lockdown measures.