Impact on particular groups

• Author: European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (EU body or agency)
• Pages: 27-32

27

IMPACT ON PARTICULAR

GROUPS



As reported in Bulletins #1, #2 and #3, COVID-19 and the measures to contain

it affect people’s fundamental rights in different ways, often exacerbating

existing inequalities. FRA asked the FRANET researchers in each Member

State to select three social groups particularly affected by the pandemic in

their country. This section summarises the main developments for the groups

that featured most prominently in the country studies, namely:

—

people in institutional settings;

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older persons;

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people with disabilities;

—

Roma and Travellers;

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detainees;

—

victims of domestic violence.

. PEOPLE IN INSTITUTIONAL SETTINGS

FRA’s Bulletins have continuously highlighted the particular effect COVID-19

measures have on older persons and persons with disabilities living in institutional

settings. To curb the risk of infection, almost all Member States prohibited visits

to residential care homes during the f‌irst phase of the pandemic. As reported

in Bulletin#3, governments began easing such restrictions from May.

In Spain, complaints and lawsuits against nursing home management and

political-administrative authorities commenced. Media reported that about

300families whose relatives died in care homes joined collective complaints

against regional governments and the facilities.

3.1.1 Visiting restrictions eased but challenges remain

In June, about half of EU Member States further eased restrictions on visits.

For example, in France, updated guidelines reconciled strict health measures

with the free choice of people to see their relatives. Similarly, Finland updated

guidelines on visits to healthcare and social welfare units, emphasising that

decisions should be based on individual considerations rather than absolute

bans. Some countries, such as Bulgaria and Sweden,5 kept visitation bans in

place, however, or – as in Croatia – reintroduced them after a rise in infections.

Groups in some Member States criticised visitation guidelines as too complex.

A patient advocacy group in Luxembourg demanded clearer guidelines,

reporting that despite the general easing of restrictions in some institutions,

visits were diff‌icult to arrange and requirements were often “too harsh or

cumbersome”.