Strong measures taken by the governments of the Council of Europe member states are “necessary” to meet the global challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic, but clearly affect human rights, warned the Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, in a statement issued on Monday 16 March.
Ms Mijatović insists on respecting the proportionality of health measures. These must be aimed at public health, but cannot not be discriminatory.
Access to health care for all citizens must be a priority, she added, and positive measures must be taken for the elderly or those without health coverage.
It is “essential” that governments remain vigilant against racist, xenophobic or stigmatising acts and provide wide access to public health information, says the Commissioner, who calls for “communication channels” that are appropriate for everyone.
“Transparency and accessibility are essential for enabling the public’s confidence and participation in the governance of the current circumstances”, concluded Dunja Mijatović. (Original version in French by Véronique Leblanc)