Pandemic no 'blank cheque' to flout human rights: UN

Geneva: The coronavirus crisis is not a “blank cheque” to flout civil liberties, the UN human rights commissioner warned on Thursday as she criticised some states’ adoption of “unlimited” emergency powers. “Emergency measures may well be needed to respond to this public health emergency. But an emergency situation is not a blank cheque to disregard human rights obligations,” said Michelle Bachelet. The former Chilean president was addressing the first-ever virtual meeting of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva. “I am profoundly concerned by certain countries’ adoption of emergency powers that are unlimited.” Many countries have adopted extraordinary measures to deal with the pandemic. “In a few cases, the epidemic is being used to justify repressive changes to regular legislation, which will remain in force long after the emergency is over,” said Bachelet. “In some countries we have already seen reports of journalists being penalised for reporting a lack of masks, health-workers reprimanded for saying they lack protection, and ordinary people arrested for social media postings about the pandemic. “Criticism is not a crime.” AFP