The CSEM and UHC2030 Social Participation Technical Network (SPTN) would like to draw attention to the fact that civil society is not adequately included in national government responses to Covid which is contrary to governments’ committment in New York last September 2019 (UN Political Declaration on UHC) to ensure that no one is left behind. We see that most Covid-19 task forces do not include civil society.  In fact, civil society is largely operating independently from the government in most countries — the consequences of which will pan out in the next few weeks and months.

The glaring lack of civil society in government Covid responses means that the world is missing out on the experience and proximity of civil society to the grassroots where Covid is felt the most in its lethality.  It is precisely the role of civil society to bridge the gap between governments and the elderly, indigenous communities, people living with a disability or an underlying health condition, those living in poverty or without adequate employment or shelter, among many others – basically, all of those who are most vulnerable to COVID-19 and the secondary impact of governments’ dramatic attempts to isolate their residents.

Click here to read more about this topic in an article written by CSEM Advisory Group Member Justin Koonin, Dheepa Rajan from the SPTN, Eliana Monteforte from the CSEM Secretariat, Marjolaine Nicod from the UHC2030 Secretariat.