UN Secretary General Says Human Rights Are Key in Shaping the Pandemic Response

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On the Global stage, last week, the United Nations Secretary General release an important document, a policy brief titled: We are all in this together. In this brief, the Secretary General states that human rights are key in shaping the pandemic response, both for the public health emergency and the broader impact on people’s lives and livelihoods.

He writes, “Human rights put people on the centre-stage. Responses that are shaped by and respect human rights result in better outcomes in beating the pandemic, ensuring healthcare for everyone and preserving human dignity. But they also focus our attention on who is suffering most, why, and what can be done about it. They prepare the ground now for emerging from this crisis with more equitable and sustainable societies, development and peace.”

The Secretary General’s message comes just after UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Association, Clement Voule, issued a statement on April 10 asking national governments to make sure that their emergency COVID-19 regulations do not undermine international human rights standards.

These views are in harmony with the stance taken by ZimRights since the outbreak of COVID 19. In TweetView hosted by TheFeedZW on Firday last week, we stated that on COVID 19 and Human Rights, there is no ‘Versus’. This is the same fight. Human rights are at the centre of the fight against COVID-19. On our blog last week, ZimRights National Director stated that human rights are not an attachment to the fight against COVID 19. They are at the centre of the fight, a fight that humanity must win. But it must be won with great compassion, having left no one behind, and provided protection for the vulnerable.

Read the Full Policy Brief by the Secretary General here

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