COVID 19 is a test of societies, of governments, of communities and of individuals. Now is the time for solidarity and cooperation to tackle the virus, and to mitigate the effects, often unintended, of measures designed to halt the spread of the virus.
COVID-19 GUIDANCE
Respect for human rights across the spectrum, including economic and social rights, and civil and political rights, will be fundamental to the success of the public health response.
Read our guidance
Speeches, statements and OP-EDS
- COVID is “a colossal test of leadership” requiring coordinated action, High Commissioner tells Human Rights Council
- High Commissioner’s update to Member States on OHCHR COVID-19 response (PDF)
- UN human rights chief “distressed” over plight of India’s internal migrants, welcomes measures to limit impact
- The coronavirus outbreak is a test of our systems, values and humanity
- Rights and health of refugees, migrants and stateless people must be protected
Press Releases
- Counter terrorism: Egypt’s terrorism law opens the door to more rights abuses
- Agenda 2030: “Don’t forget your commitments in your response to the COVID-19 crises”
- Rights in Myanmar: “The Government must allow free flow of information and aid to protect right to health” – UN expert
- Migrants and trafficked persons: UN experts call on Governments to adopt urgent measures to protect migrants and trafficked persons in their response to COVID-19
- Sanctions: Save lives by lifting all economic sanctions amid COVID-19 pandemic
- Eritrea: Must free political prisoners and low-risk offenders to reduce COVID-19 threat in crowded jails
- Internally displaced persons: Do not forget internally displaced persons
- Right to food: Economic sanctions should be lifted to prevent hunger crises – UN expert
- Healthcare workers: Health care heroes need protection – UN expert
- Domestic violence: States must combat domestic violence in the context of COVID-19 lockdowns
- Older persons: “Unacceptable” – UN expert urges better protection of older persons facing the highest risk of the COVID-19 pandemic
- Central African Republic: UN expert calls for urgent ceasefire to protect population from COVID-19
- Right to health: No exceptions with COVID-19: “Everyone has the right to life-saving interventions”
- Racism: States should take action against COVID-19-related expressions of xenophobia
- Water: COVID-19 will not be stopped without providing safe water to people living in vulnerability
- Foreign debt: “An immediate human rights response to counter the COVID-19 and the global recession ahead is an urgent priority”
- Freedom of opinion and expression: Governments must promote and protect access to and free flow of information during pandemic
- Israel, OPT: Israel has ‘legal duty’ to ensure that Palestinians in OPT receive essential health services
- Housing: “Housing, the front line defence against the COVID-19 outbreak”
- Disabilities: Who is protecting the people with disabilities
- Security measures: States should not abuse emergency measures to suppress human rights
Press Briefings
- Covid-19 and prisons
- Syria: Mass risk of infection in prisons
- Egypt: Overcrowded prisons
- Iran: Death of juvenile in solitary confinement
- Ethiopia: Communications shutdown
- Hungary: Emergency powers
Stories
(Originally posted on United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner website)