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HEALTH-VIRUS-RIGHTS-UN
Emergency powers in virus fight must not be used to quash dissent: UN
experts
GENEVA, March 16, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Countries going into crisis mode over
the spread of the deadly new coronavirus must not use the emergency measures
to suppress human rights, a group of independent UN experts insisted Monday.
The rights experts, who are appointed by the United Nations but who do not
speak on behalf of the world body, said they recognised “the severity of the
current health crisis and acknowledge that the use of emergency powers is
allowed by international law in response to significant threats.”
But they went on to “urgently remind states that any emergency responses
to the coronavirus must be proportionate, necessary and non-discriminatory.”
The statement was signed by more than a dozen UN experts on issues
including on the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, health,
education, and religious belief, along with the UN working group on arbitrary
detention.
It came as global infections from the novel coronavirus swelled to more
than 168,000 people, including 6,500 deaths, according to a tally compiled by
AFP from official sources.
In their comments, which echoed a recent call by the UN rights chief
Michelle Bachelet to ensure rights were respected throughout the COVID-19
response, the experts stressed that the use of emergency powers should be
declared publicly.
They also said UN treaty bodies should be notified if fundamental rights,
including movement, family life and assembly were being significantly
limited.
“Moreover, emergency declarations based on the COVID-19 outbreak should
not be used as a basis to target particular groups, minorities, or
individuals,” they insisted.
The emergency, the experts said, “should not function as a cover for
repressive action under the guise of protecting health nor should it be used
to silence the work of human rights defenders.”
“Restrictions taken to respond to the virus must be motivated by
legitimate public health goals and should not be used simply to quash
dissent.”
They warned that some states might find the use of emergency powers
“attractive because it offers shortcuts.”
“To prevent such excessive powers to become hardwired into legal and
political systems, restrictions should be narrowly tailored and should be the
least intrusive means to protect public health,” they said.
BSS/AFP/SSS/2018 hrs