Mr Chairman,
The challenge the world faces in responding to COVID-19 is
exceptional and unprecedented. It affects individuals and
communities in all regions of the world, including the
OSCE, and across all walks of life. It is a threat that
does not recognise borders, and is one that we must tackle
together.
We thank the Chair in Office, the Director of ODIHR, the
Representative on Freedom of the Media, the High
Commissioner on National Minorities, and the Secretary
General for their clear messages on the importance of
upholding OSCE commitments, including on human rights and
fundamental freedoms, during this unprecedented time.
In line with the recommendations being made by the World
Health Organisation, States are rightly taking exceptional
measures as they seek to halt the spread of the virus.
However, some of these measures have potentially profound
effects on individuals and societies, and impact on
people’s enjoyment of their human rights.
There is a risk that some measures could have a
disproportionate impact on marginalised and vulnerable
groups, including the elderly, minorities, detainees,
people with disabilities, and migrants, refugees and
internally displaced people. The impact of this crisis
risks exacerbating inequalities, particularly as we have
noted for women and girls. Measures taken to tackle the
crisis must be designed to mitigate this, rather than
contribute to it.
The phrase ‘we are all in this together’ only has meaning
if we can avoid the most vulnerable suffering
disproportionately.
The international response to the pandemic has the
potential to affect all human rights: civil and political,
and well as economic, social and cultural. Restrictions on
freedom of opinion and expression, peaceful assembly,
freedom of movement, and freedom to seek and receive
information need to be considered with great care, and with
legal safeguards. Civil society organisations, human rights
defenders and journalists must be able to perform their
independent roles, now more than ever.
A free press is crucial for a comprehensive response to the
ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Their work serves to keep
societies informed, to promote proper health measures and
to counter false or misleading information. It allows
people to access credible information to protect their
health and that of their communities. It allows people to
recognise problems that must be addressed and to hold their
governments to account.
It is vital that any restrictions on human rights are
lawful, both as a matter of international human rights law
and national law. Measures to address COVID-19 should be
targeted, time-limited, and subject to regular review to
ensure they remain necessary as a response to the pandemic.
States must not use COVID-19 as a cover for repressive
action, for example, the silencing of human rights
defenders or journalists. All States must ensure they
respect their human rights obligations, including OSCE
commitments, in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.
It is imperative that, as we respond to this situation, at
a community, national and international level, that human
rights are not forgotten, and that no one is left behind.
