A/HRC/46/44 In Mexico, OHCHR has followed up on a number of racist statements by immigration officers against migrants of African descent, in particular Africans, and Haitian nationals, as well as on some statements that consider migrants as potentially responsible for spreading COVID-19.29 In May, in response to a statement by a local politician to a local media outlet that migrants could be a source of contagion, which could result in suspicion towards the newcomers, OHCHR sent an official communication to the authorities with specific recommendations to combat xenophobia against migrants, and calling for the protection of vulnerable groups during the pandemic. In July, the Human Rights Committee adopted its general comment No. 37 (2020) on the right of peaceful assembly, in which the Committee stresses that assemblies may not be used for advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence.30 On 21–22 September and 19–20 October, the Special Rapporteur on minority issues held two virtual regional forums in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region on hate speech, social media and minorities, in order to increase the participation of minorities and promote greater interaction and exchanges at the regional level. Discussions at the regional forums informed the recommendations of the Forum on Minority Issues at its thirteenth session, on 19–20 November, the theme of which was “hate speech, social media and minorities”. Expressions of online hate speech and discrimination mainly target minorities and often create a climate of exclusion, intolerance, hostility and even violence, which highlights the need for careful and delicate efforts to ensure respect for the right to freedom of opinion and expression while at the same time combating hate speech that may lead to harm for minorities. The Forum analysed practices, challenges, opportunities and initiatives in addressing hate speech on social media against minorities, in line with the principles and rights enshrined in the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities and other relevant international instruments. G. Measures to address the socioeconomic impact of COVID-19 on minorities In November, the High Commissioner addressed in a statement the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on minority communities, who have been overexposed to contagion because of their low-paid and precarious work in specific industries, including health care, and their limited access to health-care and social protections, as well as their inadequate living conditions and limited access to sanitation. To address this, she highlighted the need for policies that delivered universal and equal access to social welfare protections and quality health care, and called for longer-term work to advance the right to social protection.31 The OHCHR guidance note on COVID-19 and minorities emphasized that the pandemic had been most devastating for the lives, health and well-being of those with lower socioeconomic status, a category that tracks closely with minority status in most countries. In certain regions or countries, members of minorities are more likely to live in overcrowded housing, making physical distancing and self-isolation more challenging, and some live in conditions where there is inadequate access to water and sanitation or where those facilities are communal. In many places, minorities are at risk carrying out low-paid jobs on the frontlines that leave them more exposed to COVID-19.32 In Nepal, OHCHR contributed to the United Nations framework for the socioeconomic response to COVID-19, including by actively promoting the guidance note 29 30 31 32 See www.milenio.com/estados/coronavirus-migrantes-en-veracruz-son-llevados-a-albergue. See para. 50. See www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=26541&LangID=E. See www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/Minorities/OHCHRGuidance_COVID19_Minorities Rights.pdf. 9