The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Marija Pejčinović Burić, sent a “Toolkit for governments across Europe on respecting human rights, democracy and the rule of law during the COVID-19 crisis” to the 47 member states on Tuesday 7 April.
“The virus is destroying many lives and much else of what is very dear to us”, she says. “We should not let it destroy our core values and free societies.” “The major social, political and legal challenge facing our member states will be their ability to respond to this crisis effectively, whilst ensuring that the measures they take do not undermine our genuine long-term interest in safeguarding Europe’s founding values of human rights, democracy and the rule of law.”
Proportionality to the health threat and a time limit are at the heart of the document. With four key areas addressed within the specific framework of the establishment of a state of emergency : - conditions for derogation from the European Convention on Human Rights in times of emergency ; - respect for the rule of law and human rights, including in the areas of freedom of expression, privacy, data protection, protection of vulnerable groups against discrimination, and education; - protection from crime and the protection of victims of crime, in particular regarding gender-based violence
The Information Document also refers to new advice from the Committee of the Parties of the Council of Europe’s MEDICRIME Convention on the counterfeiting of medical products and similar crimes, published on 8 April (see other news). (Original version in French by Véronique Leblanc)