New Delhi: United Nations human rights experts have warned countries not to quash dissent with the exercise of emergency powers put in place to contain the coronavirus spread.
“While we recognise the severity of the current health crisis and acknowledge that the use of emergency powers is allowed by international law in response to significant threats, we urgently remind States that any emergency responses to the coronavirus must be proportionate, necessary and non-discriminatory,” the experts said.
The UN experts who made the comments include the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, Fionnuala D. Ní Aoláin; the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Agnes Callamard; the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, David Kaye and others.
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The UN said that the use of emergency powers must be publicly declared and must further follow the guidance of international law.
“Moreover, emergency declarations based on the Covid-19 outbreak should not be used as a basis to target particular groups, minorities, or individuals. It should not function as a cover for repressive action under the guise of protecting health nor should it be used to silence the work of human rights defenders,” it further added.
The UN also warned against the obvious use of shortcuts offered by the exercise of emergency powers to curtail human rights.
“Finally, in countries where the virus is waning, authorities must seek to return life to normal and must avoid excessive use of emergency powers to indefinitely regulate day-to-day life,” they said.