Hard-won equality and human rights are at risk of going backwards with clear and long-lasting damage to society and the economy as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, analysis by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has revealed.

Its latest report, ‘How coronavirus has affected equality and human rights’, brings together a wealth of evidence exposing the impact of coronavirus across key areas of life and the hardship faced by people who already face disadvantage. In particular it has identified concerning backwards trends both for young people and for the care system, and has highlighted just how entrenched racial inequality is in society.

As the country looks to 'build back better', EHRC has called for equality and human rights to be put at the heart of recovery strategies, so that long-standing concerns and deep rooted inequalities can be tackled once and for all.

Caroline Waters, Interim Chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, said:

“In the early days we said that coronavirus did not discriminate. However, the virus has torn through our lives, exposing stark inequalities that show that, ultimately, the outcomes it creates, do. We cannot afford for inequality in our society to become further entrenched. And as we learn to live with coronavirus and look to re-build our society, we have to strike a difficult balance between making sure that lives are protected, but also protecting the hard-won freedoms that are the hallmark of life in Britain.

“Young people risk becoming the lost generation, and older people becoming marginalised and isolated, as we have watched education and care homes being dealt a heavy blow. And the disproportionate impact of the virus on ethnic minorities, coupled with global protests, has shone a light on racial inequality like never before. This is just the tip of the iceberg. We are yet to see the effect on access to healthcare for other life-threatening conditions, such as cancer, or what the long-term economic effects mean for different protected characteristics, such as women.

“The pandemic has painfully exposed the fragility of the gains that we’d made towards becoming a fairer and more prosperous society. As we look towards the future and consider what our ‘new normal’ may look like, we have to decide what sort of a society we want to become. This is an opportunity to put equality and human rights at the heart of our recovery, politically and economically, so that we have a strong foundation at the core of everything we do. Not only would this cement necessary protections in everyone’s lives, but it could help prevent those who are most vulnerable having to bear the brunt of adversity in the future.”

EHRC’s latest report provides a snapshot of the emerging impact of the pandemic:

Racial inequality

The negative effect on people from different ethnic minorities is evident as many have faced a perfect storm of being both more likely to die from the virus and more likely to experience financial hardship as a result of the pandemic. Some ethnic minority groups, such as Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Black African / Caribbean people, are at greater risk of unemployment than white people. EHRC has called for mandatory monitoring and reporting by employers on the recruitment, retention and progression of ethnic minority groups, with time-bound, target driven action plans to address the factors creating pay and employment gaps.

Young people

Having experienced a significant interruption to their education, being at high risk of job losses and with reduced career options stalling their prospects, young people are in danger of becoming a “lost generation” as a result of the pandemic. Given the economic consequences of the pandemic, there is an additional risk that increasing levels of poverty for certain groups may further affect educational attainment and long-term prospects.

Social care

The coronavirus pandemic has devastated the care sector. Not only has it disproportionately affected older people, some ethnic minority groups, and disabled people living in care homes, but morale among care sector staff is low as workers face an increased risk from the virus, lack of recognition and staff shortages. The financial repercussions from the pandemic are likely to exacerbate inequalities in the sector for some time to come.