OPINION OF EXPERTS

 The Committee on the Rights of the Child expresses concern about the situation of children globally, particularly those in situations of vulnerability, due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many children are gravely affected physically, emotionally and psychologically, especially in countrie ...

Many Governments’ responses to COVID-19 have had devastating effects on people in poverty, said the UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Philip Alston. “Despite often far-reaching policy reversals and huge financial support packages, the most vulnerable have been short-changed ...

Governments and business must prioritise the wellbeing and rights of all in society, and particularly vulnerable workers, as they try to keep firms and economies afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic, a group of UN experts said. It is vital to protect workers who are most vulnerable to abuse and loss ...

GENEVA (27 April 2020) – As Governments face the formidable challenge of protecting people from COVID-19, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet has called on them to ensure human rights are not violated under the guise of exceptional or emergency measures. “Emergency powers should ...

"The situation presented by the COVID-19 pandemic requires many countries worldwide to take extraordinary measures to protect the health and well-being of the population. Even in a public emergency, these steps need to be based on the rule of law. Emergency powers should be used within the paramete ...

GENEVA (24 April 2020) – UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said today she was alarmed by restrictive measures imposed by several States against the independent media, as well as the arrest and intimidation of journalists, saying the free flow information was vital in fighting C ...

The COVID-19 pandemic has concentrated minds about the resilience of our health care systems and it is challenging member states’ health policies and their effectiveness. In addition, doctors, medical staff and health care staff are under unprecedented pressure. Do we have sufficient medical facil ...

” The states of emergencies established in many countries to provide conditions to protect societies in the fight against the impact and proliferation of the coronavirus, respond to an extraordinary and grave situation which is endangering the life of millions of people around the world. This public ...

”The function of the European Committee of Social Rights is to rule on the conformity of States Parties’ national law and practice with the European Social Charter (revised), the 1988 Additional Protocol and the 1961 European Social Charter. The Committee is composed of 15 independent, impartial mem ...

GENEVA (22 April 2020) ­­– The COVID-19 pandemic’s lockdown measures pose special threats and challenges to an independent judiciary, said today the Special Rapporteur on independence of judges and lawyers, Diego García-Sayán. He released seven key guidelines to ensure judges, justice workers, prose ...