Conflict and Covid-19 Resource Hub
We are curating a of blogs and resources addressing the COVID-19 pandemic from the perspective of conflict-affected areas. This list is updated daily. To add a resource, please email politicalsettlements@ed.ac.uk. You can also subscribe via email for updates on COVID-19 resources and wider PSRP news.
Coronavirus Reports, News, Commentaries and Letters by Human Rights Watch
Collection of country-specific and general reports, commentaries, news releases, etc. concerning COVID-19’s implications for Human Rights.
COVID-19 and its human rights dimensions – OHCHR
Collection of OHCHR produced documents relating to Covid-19 and Human Rights, incl. speeches, statements, press releases, and briefings,
Protection and COVID-19 – Global Protection Cluster
Info-hub collecting resources and information on the situation of those in need of protection as a result of conflict, disasters and climate change, and their inclusion in national and local COVID-19 preparedness, prevention and response activities. GPC also produces regular COVID-19 Protection Risks & Responses Situation Reports.
Symposium on COVID-19 and International Law – Barrie Sander & Jason Rudall (eds), Opinio Juris
Symposium of over 30 contributions, of which many question whether international law, or its failure, is complicit in the COVID-19 crisis. Others ask how international law can or should respond to the pandemic.
Perspectives on a Pandemic: COVID-19 Analysis from CIC – NYU Center on International Cooperation
Regularly updated collection of articles, blog posts, and policy papers on COVID-19 by the CIC.
COVID-19 Response and Resources by the Alliance for Peacebuilding (AfP)
Collection of resources (incl. blogs and webinars) on AfP members involved in COVID-19 responses, who are helping mitigate the crisis and protect the world’s most vulnerable populations.
COVID-19 Open Research Dataset (CORD-19)
The Allen Institute for AI has partnered with leading research groups to prepare and distribute the COVID-19 Open Research Dataset (CORD-19), a free resource of over 51,000 scholarly articles, including over 40,000 with full text, about COVID-19 and the coronavirus family of viruses for use by the global research community.
Mapping Risk Factors for the Spread of COVID-19 in Africa – Africa Centre for Strategic Studies
A series of maps graphically representing relative levels of vulnerability across the African continent.
COVID-DEM Infohub – How is COVID-19 affecting democracy? – Democratic Decay
Long-form academic research
COVID-DEM’s aim is to help democracy analysts worldwide track, compile, and share information on how State responses to COVID-19 are impacting on democratic governance.
Mobility Restrictions COVID-19 – IOM
Portal that maps and monitors types of travel restrictions imposed by countries.
Coronavirus & Civic Space – ICLN
Resources and information on how international law provides a framework to uphold human rights during crisis response.
COVID-19 Community Mobility Reports – Google
See how your community is moving around differently due to COVID-19.
COVID-19 key information for South Sudan – CSRF South Sudan
Library of analysis and tools to help design and deliver more context-aware responses to COVID-19 in South Sudan.
Global Protest Tracker – The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
A one-stop source for following crucial trends in the most significant antigovernment protests worldwide that now also monitors global protests in times of COVID-19.
Coronavirus and Global Disorder analysis resources – The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Carnegie experts offer analysis on the political, economic, and geostrategic effects of the global pandemic.
Life with Corona
Charitable open access citizen science project that collects data to allow a comprehensive insight into daily life during the pandemic.
COVID-19 Map – Johns Hopkins University
COVID-19 Civic Freedom Tracker – ICLN, ECLN, UN Special Rapporteur Fionnuala D. Ní Aoláin
Oxford COVID-19 Government Response Tracker – University of Oxford
#COVID19 – A global joint response (resources) – ACAPS
COVID-19 – Government measures (dataset) – ACAPS
COVID-19 AND PERSONS DEPRIVED OF LIBERTY INFORMATION HUB – Association for the Prevention of Torture
Tracking the Global Response to COVID-19 – Privacy International
Country Policy Tracker – OECD
Understanding the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic through data – World Bank
COVID-19 Disorder Tracker – ACLED
A Global Call: Will COVID-19 bring more peace to the world? –
Is there a Responsibility to Protect the world from pandemics? – Thomas Peak, Centre for Geopolitics
A dangerous cocktail: Coronavirus and war – Orly Stern
Fear of a fragile planet – Naomi Hossain, Institute of Development Studies
Violence imperils coronavirus response in conflict zones around the world – , and
COVID-19 Symposium: COVID-19 in Conflict-Affected Areas–Armed Groups as Part of a Global Solution – Marcos D. Kotlik and Ezequiel Heffes, Opinio Juris
COVID-19: Four ways peacebuilders can respond – Rebeca Crozier, International Alert
COVID-19 and conflicts: Views from peacebuilders – Margot Jones, EPLO
Coronavirus in Conflict Zones: A Sobering Landscape – The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
A compilation of a dozen country analysis considering the consequences coronavirus will have on conflict-affected countries.
Coronavirus in conflict:The fight has hardly begun – Eleanor Gordon, Florence Carrot, The Interpreter
(EVENT) Coronavirus and Conflict: The Security Sector Response – USIP
The role of community peacebuilders in a pandemic: what we learnt from the Ebola crisis –
Responding to COVID-19: The Need for Conflict Sensitivity – Céline Monnier, NYU CIC
COVID-19 and the impact on local peacebuilding – Conducive Space for Peace, Humanity United, Peace Direct
COVID-19 and the toxic politics of exploitation – Louisa Waugh, Saferworld
Peace building in the time of Coronavirus – Michael Keating, EIP
How is COVID playing out in Fragile and Conflict Affected Settings? – Duncan Green, From Poverty to Power
Covid-19 and Violent Conflict: Responding to Predictable Unpredictability – Christine Bell, Political Settlements Research Programme (Just Security)
COVID-19 in Africa: “Know your Epidemic, Act on its Politics.” – Alex de Waal, LSE
The Impact of COVID-19 on Global Peace Operations – Cedric de Coning (IPI Global Observatory)
Covid-19 and Conflict: Seven Trends to Watch – Crisis Group
Conflict and peace scenarios in times of conflict
Dan Smith, SPRI Director, Covid-19-Conflict YouTube Analysis
CRP Update on Covid-19 in DRC, Iraq, Somalia, South Sudan, and Syria – Conflict Research Programme
Richard Gowan about the consequences of Coronavirus for peacekeeping
Dealing with Covid-19 in Conflict Zones Needs A Different Approach – Katie Peters & Sherine El Taraboulsi-McCarthy, ODI (Thomson Reuters Foundation News)
Could coronavirus lead to a “positive peace”? – Rachel Scott, UNDP
Conflict and peace scenarios in times of COVID-19 – Juan Garrigues, CIDOB
COVID-19: One War that Must Be Fought – DPPA
Peace and Pandemics: How COVID-19 will impact violence and what we can do about it – Rachel Locke
COVID-19: Building a more peaceful world from a global crisis – Jessie Banfield, International Alert
Militancy in Lake Chad and Mozambique, COVID-19 in Gaza and Syria: The Cheat Sheet – The New Humanitarian
Yemen floods, Myanmar information bans, and COVID-19 disruption (nearly) everywhere: The Cheat Sheet – The New Humanitarian
The Coronavirus Could Topple Governments Around the World – Nic Cheeseman, Foreign Policy
What is SSR going to look like after Covid19? – Viola Csordas, DCAF-ISSAT
Corona-PeaceLab: How Do We Need to Adapt Crisis Prevention and Peacebuilding? – PeaceLab
COVID-19: Peacebuilders aren’t the side dish. We’re the delivery service – Mike Jobbins, Medium
Peace First Launches Rapid Response Grants to Address COVID-19 – Peace First
Unity-Separatist issues
Devolved Spain Struggles for Unity Against Coronavirus
Geopolitics
The World Health Organization and Pandemic Politics – David P. Fidler, Think Global Health
‘Just one case’: fears coronavirus may spread like wildfire in world’s refugee camps – Reuters
Fragility and Pandemics: Finding the right equation to steer action – Rachel Locke
After the pandemic: How will COVID-19 transform global health and development? – Michael Igoe, Vince Chadwick, Devex
The Coronavirus is a Call To Build Resilience in Fragile States – Nancy Lindborg, USIP
The Covid-19 pandemic in the eyes of a Rohingya – Rashid Mubarak, Asia Times
Broadcast: Fears for world’s largest refugee settlement as Coronavirus draws closer – BBC World Service Newshour
Global Health Security – COVID-19 & Humanitarian Response: Leave No-One Behind – Alistair D. B. Cook, RSiS
Coronavirus and aid: what we’re watching – New Humanitarian
Q&A: WHO’s Mike Ryan on how countries in crisis can perpare for a coronavirus epidemic – New Humanitarian
How You Can Protect Your Community, Not Just Your Own Health – Oeindrila Dube and , NY Times
Protecting African Garment Industry from Covid Fallout?
Public health experts: Coronavirus could overwhelm the developing world – , , and Terrence McCoy, The Washington Post
From cholera to corona: The politics of plagues in Africa – Simukai Chigudu, Africa Is a Country
Roma: Europe’s Neglected Coronavirus Victims – Stephan Müller, Fikrija Tair, Bashkim Ibishi and Dragan Gracanin, Reporting Democracy
NEW: “Corona Ceasefires”: An Opportunity for Negotiated Agreements? – Asli Ozcelik Olcay, Just Security
Ceasefires in the Time of COVID-19 – , , , and
The U.N. has appealed for a global coronavirus cease-fire – But is it possible to quarantine conflict? – Govinda Clayton, Washington Post
Update on the Secretary General’s Appeal for A Global Ceasefire
Coronavirus: ceasefires and resolutions in project at UN
Calling for a global ceasefire – GPPAC
Ceasefires in Armed Conflicts during the Coronavirus Pandemic – ECP, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Ceasefire Arrangements – Political Settlements Research Programme
When and how are ceasefires negotiated, and what are their critical elements? The Spotlight reviews core elements included in the 267 ceasefire agreements signed between 1990 and 2015 listed on the PA-X Peace Agreements Database.
Gender Mainstreaming in Ceasefires: Comparative Data and Examples – Political Settlements Research Programme
When and how have ceasefire agreements in armed conflict addressed women? Why should ceasefires include gender-specific provisions? Finally, what are the potential strategies for including women in ceasefire monitoring and implementation modalities?
Humanitarian Assistance and Gender Perspectives in Peace Agreements – Political Settlements Research Programme
When and how do peace processes provide for humanitarian assistance? Do peace agreements that provide for humanitarian assistance adopt a gender perspective?
NEW: COVID-19: a double burden for women in conflict settings – Njoki Kinyanjui, LSE WPS
Covid-19 and Gender-based Violence in Conflict: New Challenges and Persistent Problems – Catherine O’Rourke, TJI/Political Settlements Research Programme
ICAN’s Statement on our Gender- and Conflict-Sensitive Response to COVID-19 – International Civil Society Action Network
Why Women’s Rights Must be Central to the UN Security Council’s Response to COVID-19 – NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security
Gender implications of COVID-19 outbreaks in development and humanitarian settings – Care
Research Report: Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Violence against Women and Girls – Erika Fraser, DFID VAWG
COVID-19: Emerging gender data and why it matters – UN Women
Why we need gender perspectives in our global solutions to COVID-19 – Claire Dowling, EIP
Women Peace and Security in the Time of Corona – Sanam Naraghi Anderlini, LSE Centre for Women, Peace and Security (Women Peace and Security blog)
Waging a war against a virus is not what we need to be doing – Cynthia Enloe, WILPF
Women in Bangladesh promote hygiene in refugee camps amid coronavirus fears – Thomson Reuters Foundation News
Covid-19: Militarise or Organise? – Ray Acheson, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom
Pandemics in Crisis-Affected Settings: Ensuring Women & Girls Are Not Forgotten – Alina Potts, GIWPS
Gendering COVID-19: Implications for Women, Peace and Security – Sini Ramo, LSE
What the Pandemic Means for UN Peacekeeping Work – Robert Ulrich Nagel and Melanne Verveer, PassBlue
Digital Technologies and Mediation Toolkit – United Nations Peacemaker
What the UN Security Council Can Do on Coronavirus: A Global Goods Coordination Mechanism – Rob Berschinski, Human Rights First (Just Security)
How coronavirus is accelerating a new approach to international cooperation – Annalisa Prizzon, Overseas Development Institute
Coronavirus Puts Systems for International Cooperation to the Test – William J. Long, J USIP
U.N. Security Council Paralyzed as Contagion Rages – Colum Lynch, Foreign Policy
Using Graphics to Cut Through Covid’s Complexity – Heather Marquette, From Poverty to Power
On Covid-19 Social Science can save lives: where do we start? – Heather Marquette, From Poverty to Power
Impact evaluations in the time of Covid-19, Part 1 – Markus Goldstein, Florence Kondylis, World Bank
More relevant World Bank blogs about alternative ways of collecting data and conducting evaluations include: Dialing for Data: The Story of a High Frequency Phone Survey in Liberia (Kristen Himelein), and Calling it in: using phones for repeat surveys (Markus Goldstein).
COVID-19 – the social science response to the pandemic – IDS
Covid-19 – a social phenomenon requiting diverse expertise – Hayley Macgregor, Melissa Leach, Annie Wilkinson, and Melissa Parker, Institute of Development Studies (IDS blog)
Fill the gaps, feel the pain: Insights from Sierra Leone on an epidemic’s impact on local taxation, public services, and the poor – Vanessa van den Boogaard, International Centre for Tax and Development (ICTD blog)
NEW: Why Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism Law and Practice Is Failing a Human Rights Audit – Fionnuala Ní Aoláin, Just Security
Not directly Covid-19 related, but implicates counter-terrorism strategy which is closely bound up with states of emergency that have seen a rise during the Covid-19 pandemic.
COVID-19 and its human rights dimensions – OHCHR
Collection of OHCHR produced documents relating to Covid-19 and Human Rights, incl. speeches, statements, press releases, and briefings, as e.g. “Housing, the front line defence against the COVID-19 outbreak,” says UN expert and COVID-19: States should not abuse emergency measures to suppress human rights – UN experts.
We must respect human rights and stand united against the coronavirus pandemic – Commissioner for Human Rights, Council of Europe
Persons with disabilities must not be left behind in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic – Commissioner for Human Rights, Council of Europe
Disability considerations during the COVID-19 outbreak – WHO
Symposium on COVID-19 and International Law – Barrie Sander & Jason Rudall (eds), Opinio Juris
Symposium of over 30 contributions, of which many question whether international law, or its failure, is complicit in the COVID-19 crisis. Others ask how international law can or should respond to the pandemic. Many focus on human rights.
Law in the Time of COVID-19: the Coronavirus Act 2020 – Naina Patel, Blackstone Chambers
Beating Covid-19: The problem with national lockdowns – Martin J. Bull, LSE Blog
Governing global health emergencies: the role of criminalization – Kristin Bergtora Sandvik, Intlawgrrls
Disability, coronavirus and international human rights – Oliver Lewis, Dought Street Chambers
Should Human Rights Matter in a Pandemic? – Leah Bordlee, Journal of Diplomacy
Respecting Human Rights While Protecting Public Health – Jenny Vaughan and Kelly Scott, Business for Social Responsibility
Location Surveillance to Counter COVID-19: Efficacy Is What Matters – Susan Landau, Lawfare Blog
The Corona Virus Bill and Human Rights – Sanchita Hosali, The British Institute of Human Rights
Hungary’s Viktor Orbán now rules by decree in troubling example of how coronavirus fear enables authoritarians to tighten their grip – Umut Korkut, The Conversation
COVID-19 and the European Convention on Human Rights – Kanstantsin Dzehtsiarou, Strasbourg Observers
State of emergency: how different countries are invoking extra powers to stop the coronavirus – Alan Greene, The Conversation
States should declare a State of Emergency using Article 15 ECHR to confront the Coronavirus Pandemic – Alan Greene, Strasbourg Observers
Coronavirus: States Derogating to Suspend Human Rights Obligations – Natasha Holcroft-Emmess, Oxford Human Rights Hub
COVID-19: Finding Comfort in Respecting Rights and Protecting the Most Vulnerable – Natalia Linos, Health and Human Rights Journal
Why Detaining Migrants Amid The Covid-19 Outbreak Is Gambling With Lives – Harvey Slade, Each Other
Rights in a time of quarantine – an extended look by Niall Coghlan – UK Human Rights Blog
Human rights and equality considerations in responding to the coronavirus pandemic – David Isaac, Equality and Human Rights Commission
Coronavirus: the effect on human rights – Amnesty International
Coronavirus: beyond human rights – Koldo Casla, Open Democracy
Part I: Due Diligence and COVID-19: States’ Duties to Prevent and Halt the Coronavirus Outbreak – Antonio Coco and Talita de Souza Dias, EJIL
Pandemics and Human Rights – Doug Rutzen and Nikhil Dutta, Just Security
The Coronavirus Conundrum and Human Rights – Neve Gordon and Catherine Rottenberg, Counterpunch
How is Covid-19 impacting Human Rights? – Lutz Ozette, SOAS Blog
Do the containment measures taken by Italy in relation to COVID-19 comply with human rights law? – Alessandra Spadaro, EJIL Blog
What’s at Stake for Truth, Trust, and Democracy? – Alicia Ely Yamin and Roojin Habibi, Health and Human Rights Journal
Explainer: Seven ways the coronavirus affects human rights – Amnesty International
COVID-19: A Human Rights Checklist – Human Rights Watch
Global overview of COVID-19: Impact on elections (regularly updated) – International IDEA
A First Step Toward Reform: Ending Burundi’s Forced Contribution System – Crisis Group
This is a pre-COVID-19 analysis but serves to understand current electoral dynamics which may be impacted by the pandemic. Crisis Group is following up on the implications COVID-19 has on this and other situations.
Elections and COVID-19 – International IDEA
Assessing Emergency Powers During #COVID-19 – Fionnuala Ní Aoláin, Kate Brannen and Ryan Goodman, Just Security
COVID-19, Emergency Legislation, and Sunset Clauses – Sean Molloy, Political Settlements Research Programme
Covid-19 and Derogations Before the European Court of Human Rights – Sean Molloy, VerfBlog
The Virus that Ends Us: On the Ethics of Withdrawal and Affirmation – Jan Pospisil, Austrian Study Centre for Peace and Conflict Resolution (CPD Policy Blog)
Pandemics and Human Rights – Doug Rutzen and Nikhil Dutta (Just Security)
South Asia states of emergency – Asanga Welikala
Political finance oversight during a global health pandemic – Yukihiko Hamada, IDEA
For more sources on the impact of COVID-19 on civil society space please also see the sections on ‘Human Rights’ and ‘Emergency Legislation and States of Emergency’.
Civil Society and the Coronavirus: Dynamism Despite Disruption – Saskia Brechenmacher, Thomas Carothers, Richard Youngs, Carnegie Endowment for Peace
COVID-19 and Community Responses – Scott Guggenheim, NYU CIC
Prisons, prisoner release and COVID-19 – An outlined approach to COVID-19 prisoner release, and prison-related issues, reflecting collective thinking.
As Pandemic Rages, Sri Lanka’s President Pardons a War Criminal – Maria Abi-Habib and
We need to decongest Africa’s prisons urgently. For everyone’s sake. – Sabrina Mahtani, African Arguments
UN, EU, US Welcome Release, Exchange of Prisoners in E. Ukraine – VOA news
COVID-19 and Persons Deprived of Liberty Information Hub – Association for the Prevention of Torture
Sources for multiple country-specific reports
Coronavirus Reports, News, Commentaries and Letters by Human Rights Watch
Collection of country-specific and general reports, commentaries, news releases, etc. concerning COVID-19’s implications on Human Rights.
Afghanistan
For the Taliban, the Pandemic Is a Ladder – Ashley Jackson, Foreign Policy
Afghan Peace is Now About the Art of the Possible, Not the Perfect – Ben Acheson, Foreign Policy Journal
Interview with Barnett R. Rubin on the crisis of Afghan war politics, and Covid-19 – TOLOnews
How to keep Coronavirus from hampering the peace process in Afghanistan – Barnett R. Rubin, Responsible Statecraft
The regional dimension of Covid-19’s interaction with war and peace in Afghanistan – Responsible Statecraft
An Ailing America Must Not Abandon Afghanistan – Foreign Policy
Coronavirus Poses Yet Another Challenge to the Afghan Peace Process – Scott Smith, USIP
Only Peace Can Avert a COVID-19 Catastrophe in Afghanistan – M. Ashraf Haidari, Ambassador of Afghanistan to Sri Lanka
Colombia
Steve Hege on Venezuela and Colombia During Coronavirus – Steve Hege, USIP
Colombia hopes for ‘humanitarian’ ceasefire during coronavirus as violence resurges –
El Salvador
In El Salvador, gangs are enforcing the coronavirus lockdown with baseball bats – Kate Linthicum, Molly O’Toole, Alexander Renderos, Los Angeles Times
Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Political Momentum for Peace and Human Rights?– The KOFF Peacebuilding Magazine
India
NEW: Assam: KPLT rebels come out to fill potholes on Diphu-Manja road
Israel-Palestine
Could the coronavirus bring peace among Israelis and Palestinians? – Iona Hirsch, The Jerusalem Post
US: Coronavirus cooperation proof Israeli-Palestinian peace talks possible – Tovah Lazaroff, The Jerusalem Post
Kosovo
Kosovo’s Ousted Government, Secret Deals, and War Crimes Charges – Balkan Transitional Justice
Lebanon
COVID-19: Seven trends that will shape peacebuilding in Lebanon – Ruth Simpson, International Alert
Libya
A Libya story: pandemic and human rights in times of conflict – Tarek Megerisi, Open Democracy
VIDEO: ‘Which Death Is Going to Be Worse?’ Coronavirus Invades a Conflict Zone – Haley Willis, Christiaan Triebert, Natalie Reneau and David Botti, The New York Times
Libya and pandemic politics in armed conflicts – Sherine El Taraboulsi-McCarthy, ODI
Nigeria
Benue, Taraba government sign peace agreement over Tiv/Jukun crisis – NAN, The Guardian Nigeria
Nigeria Should Build Peace Like it Fights Coronavirus – Oge Onubogu, USIP
Pakistan
Pakistan’s Looming Coronavirus Crisis – Cyril Almeida, Richard Olson, USIP
Philippines
Ex-MILF fighters harvest, donate 100 sacks of calamansi for COVID-19 fight in Isulan – Bong S. Sarmiento, Minda News
Somalia
Puntland and COVID-19: Local Responses and Economic Impact – Nisar Majid, Salman Hassan, Sahra Ahmed Koshin, Ahmed M. Musa, Khalif Abdirahman, LSE Blog
How Will Remittances Affect the Somali COVID-19 Response? – Nisar Majid, Laura Hammond, Khalif Abdirahman, Guhad Adan and Nauja Kleis
Sri Lanka
Assessing Sri Lanka’s response to COVID-19 – The Alliance of Independent Professionals
Update on Sri Lanka’s Response to COVID-19 – The Alliance of Independent Professionals
Sudan
Coronavirus reaches Sudan, one of the countries least equipped to cope with it – Mark Weston
Can there be a democratic public health? From HIV Aids to Covid-19
Syria
Can COVID-19 open the door to peace-building in Syria?
Thailand
Covid-19 ceasefire unlikely to hasten peace in Thailand’s south – Craig Keating, The Interpreter
Ukraine
Opinion: The Coronavirus Crisis Presents An Opportunity To End War In Ukraine – William B. Taylor, Steven Piper, John E. Herbst, NPR
In Frontline Ukraine, Global Pandemic Puts People at Unimaginable Risk – Igor Mitchnik, Open Democracy
Venezuela
Steve Hege on Venezuela and Colombia During Coronavirus – Steve Hege, USIP
Venezuela Urgently Needs a Humanitarian Accord that Prioritizes Life and Dignity – Feliciano Reyna Ganteaume
Yemen
UN chief calls for ceasefire as Yemen braces for possible COVID-19 outbreak – UN News
Yemen coronavirus lockdown to hamper relief effort – The New Humanitarian
A Coronavirus Ceasefire Offers A Way Out for War-Torn Yemen – Crisis Group
