Joy Dunsheath
United Nations Association
The 44th Session of the Human Rights Council began on the 30th June with a statement by Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. She presented a global update on human rights and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
She urges states to “grasp the vital importance of this moment”. Without transparency, human rights are compromised and inequality may lead to greater corruption. The COVID-19 pandemic is profoundly affecting peace and security across the globe.
"The pandemic should spur us to adopt strong, transformative measures to heighten the powerful protections that human rights based-policies can provide – by promoting public health, public confidence in official guidance, and greater social and economic resilience.
It urgently calls for leadership grounded in clarity, evidence and principle to protect the most vulnerable members of society, and to address the profound inequalities that are accelerating the pandemic's incidence and impact."
Michelle Bachelet's full statement provides comments on the many component aspects of Human Rights, complete with country-specific developments.
