GENEVA, APRIL 30 – A human rights-based approach is necessary to avoid that responses to COVID-19 have a negative impact on the enjoyment of fundamental rights and freedoms, deepening inequalities and increasing discrimination and exclusion, the Italian Permanent Representative to the International Organizations in Geneva, Ambassador Gian Lorenzo Cornado said in the second virtual informal conversation with Special Procedures mandate holders of the Human Rights Council.
“While the emergency requires to focus our attention and energies on the primary need to protect the right to life and the right to health, a human rights-based approach is necessary in order to avoid that response measures have a negative impact on the enjoyment of other fundamental rights and freedoms, deepening pre-existing inequalities and increasing discrimination and exclusion”, said Cornado.
“In this respect – the Italian Ambassador said – we are grateful to the Special Procedures mandate holders, as well as to the Treaty Bodies and to the High Commissioner and her Office for the guidance provided for the promotion and protection of human rights in the current difficult situation, we all are going through”.
Cornado raised the following questions for mandate holders:
1) In your view, what are the most urgent challenges that States need to address in countering COVID-19 pandemic from a human rights perspective?
2) Could the Mandate holders provide some best practice related to the promotion and protection of human rights while countering the emergency?
He concluded expressing his appreciations for all efforts and the engagement of the whole Bureau in organizing this meeting which testifies the commitment and the vitality of the Council in implementing its mandate even in difficult circumstances. (@OnuItalia)
