April 24, 2020

Andrew Campbell 

On April 23, the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres released a report on “We are all in this Together: Human Rights and COVID-19 Response and Recovery” and pointed out the world’s human rights are facing the biggest international crisis in generations amid the COVID-19 pandemic now.

Secretary-General Guterres stressed the COVID-19 pandemic with disproportionate effects on certain communities, the rise of hate speech, the targeting of vulnerable groups, and the risks of heavy-handed security responses undermining the health response. In his video messages, Secretary-General Guterres also warned rising authoritarianism, ethno-nationalism, populism, and a push back against human rights in some countries.

The UN chief declared while the Coronavirus threatens everyone, human rights uplift everyone. Secretary-General Guterres offers his advice that human rights must guide COVID-19 recovery response. In his concluding statement, the UN chief urged by respecting human rights in this time of crisis to build effective and inclusive solutions for today’s emergency and tomorrow’s recovery.

Photo:Webshot.