While preparing for the possibility of rapid spread, there is also concern about how inadequate health systems can cope with the pandemic. COVID-19 has unexpectedly disrupted the lives of not only those infected but also those not directly affected by the virus. Life has been disrupted.

We have all been cut off from the social life we are used to. We live in a time of loneliness and uncertainty. Daily life may feel suspended, but the fight against discrimination never stops.

Although this virus threatens everyone's lives, it does not affect us all equally. On the contrary, the virus deepens inequalities. We need to recognize that some of us are experiencing the pandemic in much worse conditions. Roma and disadvantaged groups like them, who are struggling to cope with deep poverty, are also at the center of social discrimination. The virus has been devastating for these vulnerable communities, who are struggling to find their own solutions even in the worst of circumstances. For most of them, even access to daily work has become a luxury. Living conditions can make the virus many times more deadly.

In disadvantaged communities, an overwhelming proportion of people live on daily work without access to social services. In particular, they survive by working in jobs that require regular contact with other people. If they are not working that day, there is no bread coming home that day. As a result, people with the least access to social rights are often at the greatest risk of contagion.

 

As Zero Discrimination Association, we continue to work tirelessly to eliminate human rights violations caused by discrimination, even in times of crisis and uncertainty.

Administrators should adopt a rights-oriented and non-discriminatory attitude while planning the necessary actions and taking measures to combat the pandemic.

In particular, they should not lose sight of the fact that some groups in society are much more affected by the pandemic. It should be aware of the disadvantages of vulnerable groups. Otherwise, existing disadvantages are exacerbated in this crisis.

The pandemic has made it almost impossible for the Roma community to find the chance to stay at home like many people. Measures developed by ignoring the living conditions of even the settled Roma community are ineffective. It is very important to develop measures with a social inclusion approach for Roma who do not have access to clean water, who cannot economically access hygiene products, and who do not have health insurance.

Solidarity is the new normal!

In this tense environment where life is almost suspended, the future may look dark, but hope is also around us. We will not be captive to fear and panic. We will clasp hands in solidarity. Humanity has always overcome wars and other crises with solidarity. Today, solidarity will again be the cure for this pandemic. It is in our hands to empathize and understand each other's situation. Solidarity is the new normal! It is time to leave prejudices behind. The glass ceilings of discrimination will be broken with empathy. And there will be hope for everyone.

If there are people, there is always hope; stand by hope!

As Zero Discrimination, we continue to listen to the problems of disadvantaged groups deeply affected by the pandemic. We are in the field and we are together. In this process, you may be working from home, you may be managing your life from home. But if you want to support and be in solidarity, you can follow our social media accounts.  People are stigmatized because of their identities, cultural groups and health conditions. You can follow and spread the posts made by Zero Discrimination, which fights against this; you can join our solidarity network. You can light a candle in these dark days!

While the whole world is struggling with the same problem, we have seen that the right to work with social security, the right to health, the right to education, the threat of discrimination are vital for all of us. Thanks to the virus, we realized that no one lives on an island, that we are all part of a whole, and that the stronger the weakest link, the stronger we are...

Let's fight discrimination together..

Let's not be afraid of each other, let's hope for each other!