A/76/257 of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. Such a discriminatory situation may also constitute a threat for p ublic health. 27 39. Hate speech and fake news have also circulated on media and social media platforms, presenting migrant workers as competing with local community members over vaccines or over jobs in time of crisis. A study conducted by the Inter-American Development Bank found that expressions carrying prejudices against migrants increased by 70 per cent in the first two months after the COVID -19 pandemic was declared. Messages on Twitter fuelled fear about migrants being vectors of contagion or responsible for the collapse of national health systems. 28 Increased discrimination was also experienced by migrants forced to return to communities of origin. 29 40. A number of Governments have taken measures to counter these negative trends, such as anti-discrimination policies and campaigns to refute racism and scapegoating in the context of the pandemic and to promote social cohesion between migrants and host communities. Role of civil society 41. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, many civil society organizations have contributed to front-line responses, stepping in to fill gaps in essential services. 30 Their work has included decongestion of crowded displacement camps; community awareness on COVID-19 risks and prevention; strengthening health, water, sanitation and hygiene systems; and coordinating advocacy for the inclusion of internally displaced persons, refugees and migrants in national COVID -19 responses. Some of those organizations have been affected by negative perceptions and hostile narrativ es because of their assistance to migrants, triggering concerns for possible shrinking of civic space. 31 42. Several Governments have consulted and worked together with civil society organizations and other stakeholders in their programmes to reach out to migrants, tailor awareness campaigns and provide migrants, including women migrants, with access to essential services and support. IV. International human rights framework 43. All migrants, regardless of their migration status, are entitled to the pr otection of the human rights framework, without any discrimination. States have the obligation to respect, protect and promote the rights of everyone in their territory or within their jurisdiction, including migrants, and regardless of their status. The U niversal Declaration of Human Rights and the core international human rights treaties provide the legal framework to address the human rights challenges of migrants in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. __________________ 27 28 29 30 31 21-10577 See www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/Racism/COVID-19_and_Racial_Discrimination.pdf. Submission by Center for Justice and International Law. See www.hrw.org/fr/news/2020/05/12/le-covid-19-attise-le-racisme-anti-asiatique-et-laxenophobie-dans-le-monde-entier; www.hrw.org/fr/news/2020/05/05/chine-discriminationcontre-les-africains-dans-le-contexte-du-covid-19; https://eea.iom.int/publications/counteringxenophobia-and-stigma-foster-social-cohesion-covid-19-response-and-recovery. Submissions by Mixed Migration Center; Iraqi Al-Amal Association; Al-Namaa Center for Human Rights; Organizing Committee for East Asia; Maat for Peace, Development and Human Rights. See www.un.org/ruleoflaw/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/UN-SG-Policy-Brief-Human-Rightsand-COVID-23-April-2020.pdf. See www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=IPOL_STU(2020)659660 ; and www.focsiv.it/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/BackGround-Document-n.-8-ITA-15.12.2020.pdf. 9/22