Countering Xenophobia and Stigma to Foster Social Cohesion in the COVID-19 Response and Recovery

"The COVID-19 pandemic prompted widespread expressions of mutual solidarity and support from States, civil society and individuals that transcended socioeconomic status and backgrounds. However, it also created generalized fears and worries that have fed off an existing culture of distrust and discrimination against migrants."

This issue brief from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) explores the various forms of xenophobic attacks on migrants during the COVID-19 pandemic and outlines the detrimental effects of these attacks - not only on the safety and human dignity of victims but also on public health and social cohesion. It then proposes a number of solutions that States and other relevant actors may consider, ranging from measures aimed at strengthening the legal and policy response to xenophobia and racism, to community-based models to address prejudices and promote social mixing.

As outlined here, documented cases of racist and xenophobic attacks towards migrants in the COVID-19 context range from hate speech, racial slurs, and acts of violence, to discriminatory public policies and laws. Recorded incidents include various and widespread human rights abuses in virtually all regions of the world; among the examples set out in the report: verbal attacks and insults in the streets and online petitions and social media posts attracting derogatory comments and violent threats towards migrants. In short, the pandemic has been used as a pretext to spread pre-existing anti-foreigner narratives, instead of a more balanced perspective taking into consideration the critical role assumed by migrants as essential workers - let alone our common humanity.

IOM stresses that stigmatisation is problematic from the perspective of not only social justice but also public health: Stigma prompts social isolation of groups and a fear of seeking medical attention, which in turn can undermine the effective inclusion of migrants in the public health response.

Solutions to xenophobic attacks and hate speech in the context of a pandemic should develop along two lines of interventions, according to IOM:

• The adoption of solid legal and policy frameworks aimed at preventing xenophobia and hate crimes against migrants and at sanctioning those responsible, while promoting peaceful living in our societies - For example, information and support, including legal advice, should be made available to migrants to report xenophobic attacks and other acts of discrimination or abuse. In order for migrants to be able to use online reporting mechanisms, migrants need to be digitally included, and they should not be penalised for reporting hate speech or other hate crimes (e.g., they should not fear deportation if they do so). Furthermore, national and local authorities should strive to ensure that any communication to the public about COVID-19 and its spread is based on facts and scientific data and does not contribute to xenophobia, racial discrimination, or hate crimes.
• Community-based approaches to reduce prejudice and facilitate social cohesion - For example, social mixing strategies in towns and cities (particularly in more deprived areas) can involve neighbourhood associations, local charities, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) facilitating low-threshold encounters between local populations and newly arrived migrants. These encounters can take a number of forms, including language cafés, gardening, and arts projects; broader national youth engagement or educational strategies, relying on non-traditional actors, have also been pursued. In addition, migrant volunteering has shown potential to present a different face of the pandemic (e.g., in media coverage): Diverse groups of people are united in solidarity to respond. Along those lines, media-based "anti-prejudice campaigns" and public education initiatives can be developed to correct negative stereotypes that persist in public discourse.

Key recommendations on countering xenophobia and stimatisation offered in the brief include:

• Enhance legislative and policy frameworks against hate crime and its implementation, including improved access to remedies - e.g., by addressing cases where public officials are involved in excessive use of force due to racial motives.
• Proactively address xenophobia and hate speech in online fora - i.e.:
  • Ensure that rules on social media content and moderation are clear about which specific content is prohibited, and strike a fair balance between the public interest in curbing hate speeches against migrantsand the right to freedom of expression.
  • Enhance monitoring and reporting on the nature, scale, and impacts of COVID-19-related xenophobia and hate speech.
  • Involve communities most affected by online hate speech in the development of effective tools to address harms caused through digital channels, especially social media platforms; co-design relevant tools with affected communitie,s and evaluate their effectiveness through the use of big data.
  • Take active measures to address digital exclusions of particularly vulnerable groups, including by supporting digital literacy and by fostering access to the internet and digital equipment.
• Promote evidence-based and stigma-free language in all communication channels that respects and empowers people - for example, by only using the official name of the disease instead of stigma-creating alternatives.
• Strengthen "whole of community" approaches to reducing prejudice and promoting social cohesion - i.e.:
  • Embed social connection activities (both offline and online) into the overall pandemic response; these activities can reduce anxieties related isolation and encourage empathy between migrants and local communities.
  • Promote evaluation and sharing of good practices to maintain social connections between migrants and non-migrant local populations during lockdowns and mobility restrictions.
  • Strengthen networks of migrant associations, facilitate their access to decision-making, and co-create interventions (e.g., volunteerism) with other local actors to bolster inter-communal relations.
  • Establish strong consultative mechanisms involving NGOs, migrant associations, businesses and other civil society organisations, who can voice the specific concerns of their constituencies related to any increase in xenophobic sentiment and hatred.
• Develop and strengthen prejudice-reduction and anti-discrimination measures within recovery plans - e.g., by establishing mechanisms for collecting data disaggregated by migration status and other relevant characteristics in order to improve the understanding of the impact of COVID-19 and inform future policies.