In moments of crisis, human rights violations are more likely to occur and the COVID-19 pandemic is no different.  Globally, the pandemic has wreaked havoc on families and communities, interrupted jobs and livelihoods, and increased economic hardship, among other adverse effects. Across Africa, the pandemic has exposed the fragilepolitical freedoms and socio-economic rights for people living on the continent and resulted in increased rates of violence by state and non-state actors, with a disproportionate impact on girls and women. To explore the impact of COVID-19 on human rights in Africa, we are joined by Anietie Ewang, a Nigeria researcher in the Africa division of The Human Rights Watch, and Wangui Kimari, a participatory action research coordinator for the Mathare Social Justice Center in Nairobi, Kenya.

Anietie Ewang
Follow Anietie:@aniewang
Follow Human Rights Watch:@hrw

• Human Rights Watch. Anietie Ewang Profile
• Anietie Ewang. Hunger during the pandemic shows Nigeria’s social security gaps
• BBC World News. Nigeria's #EndSars protests: What happened next

Wangui Kimari
Follow Mathare Social Justice Centre: @MathareSJustice
Follow Institute for Humanities: @huma_africa

• Mathare Social Justice Centre. As We Lose Our Fear: Photography exhibition on police brutality – Mathare Social Justice Centre.
• Mathare Social Justice Centre. Mothers of Victims and Survivors Network.
• Institute for Humanities in Africa. People | Wangui Kimari Profile.
• News 24. Six Kenyan police charged over brothers' death in custody.