6. Non-return and access to territory
A State’s pursuit of legitimate health goals must respect the fundamental principle of nonrefoulement, including non-return to a real risk of persecution, arbitrary deprivation of life,
torture, or other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment.
7. Enforcement of immigration law, including detention
States may not enforce immigration laws in a manner that increases the risk of transmission of
COVID-19, and such enforcement must comport with fundamental norms of due process.
Detention of migrants, refugees, and other displaced persons is impermissible where such
detention would expose them to serious risks to their health and life due to the COVID-19
pandemic.
8. Right to protection of life and health for persons in camps, collective shelters, and
settlements
States must take effective measures to mitigate COVID-19 transmission among migrants, refugees,
and other displaced persons living in camps, collective shelters, and settlements.
9. Right to information
Migrants, refugees, and other displaced persons have a right to information about COVID-19,
including information related to symptoms, prevention, control of spread, treatment, and social
relief. The internet is an indispensable source of information, and blocking or interfering with
access during a pandemic is not justifiable.
10. Protection of privacy
In responding to COVID-19, States must protect the right to privacy of migrants, refugees, and
other displaced persons, including their right to control the release of personal medical
information.
11. Gender considerations
States must ensure the protection of the rights of displaced women, girls and gender-nonconforming people, and should identify and mitigate particular threats to their health, safety, and
well-being in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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