A/75/329 States to allocate adequate financial, human and technical resources to improve the quality of data collection systems, while guaranteeing the protection of privacy and consultation with civil society in the process. 96. The Special Rapporteur urges States to ensure that COVID-19 emergency response policies and practices are consistent with human rights standards. Using multi-level, complementary and diverse methods, COVID-19 responses should be crafted to address structural discrimination. In consultation with affected individuals and communities, States should dedicate resources to bridge digital divides and address structural discrimination and racial inequalities. The Special Rapporteur reiterates the recommendation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action that States develop and implement action plans to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance which should include affirmative action in the areas of health, social services, housing and employment. 63 97. As stated by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the pandemic and the measures taken to combat it have had a disproportionate negative impact on the most marginalized groups. The Special Rapporteur reaffirms the Committee’s recommendation to Member States that they must “mobilize the necessary resources to combat COVID-19 in the most equitable manner, in order to avoid imposing a further economic burden on these marginalized groups”. 64 98. The Special Rapporteur notes with concern that the pandemic exacerbates existing socioeconomic inequalities and discrimination, marginalizing those in a precarious economic situation who are disproportionately exposed to financial shocks. States should ensure that the right to non-discrimination and the rights to an adequate standard of living and the highest attainable standard of health, among other human rights standards, are at the centre of COVID-19 response policies. In particular, the Special Rapporteur underlines the need for affordable care and equal access to health facilities to prevent, treat and control epidemic diseases, with a view to realizing the right to the highest attainable standard of health for all, without discrimination. 99. The Special Rapporteur recommends that States incorporate equality impact assessments into their ongoing public health, economic, and social policy responses to the crisis, in order to ensure that such responses are inclusive and proportionate. Impact assessment with a focus on vulnerable groups should be an essential component of intervention measures to guarantee the enjoyment of human rights for all, without discrimination. 100. The Special Rapporteur calls upon States to engage with victimized communities and curb racist incidents where some public officials have failed to do so. States should take stock of the normalization of emergency measures that employ discriminatory strategies or manifest any form of discrimination. The Special Rapporteur encourages national and local authorities to devise post-pandemic recovery plans that are fully inclusive, and are implemented in compliance with international human rights standards. 101. Recalling her thematic report of 2018 that noted the growing support for racist and related ideology through the use of digital technologies, the Special Rapporteur reiterates that the current international and regional human rights framework offers principles that should be implemented effectively in law and in practice by States in order to tackle racism and intolerance through the use of __________________ 63 64 22/23 Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, paras. 66, 99, 167 and 191. See E/C.12/2020/1. 20-11206