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STORY: OHCHR / EMERGENCY MEASURES GUIDELINES PRESSER
TRT: 2:11
SOURCE: OHCHR
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH /NATS
DATELINE: 27 APRIL 2020 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
FILE
1. Aerial shot, exterior, Palais Wilson
27 APRIL 2020 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Georgette Gagnon, Director of Director of Field Operations for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“But since measures started to loosen a few weeks ago, the office has received reports of censorship on an offline, intimidation, arrests and apparent detention of dissenting voices such as doctors, journalists, human rights defenders and members of the CCP. The office is in direct contact with Chinese authorities to clarify the status of around half a dozen of such cases. China has informed us at this point that at least some of them are under investigation or have been or have been charged. Of course, it's critical that people must be able to express their views and have access to information without reprisals.”
FILE
3. Aerial shot, exterior, Palais Wilson
27 APRIL 2020 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Georgette Gagnon, Director of Director of Field Operations for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“What we are concerned about is conflicting messages by authorities at times downplaying the seriousness of the situation, and that can undermine Brazil's efforts to address the pandemic with, of course, potential dire circumstances. And it's certainly our view that governments everywhere need to protect democratic values and human rights, preventing responses that fuel anti-democratic tendencies.”
FILE
5. Aerial shot, exterior, Palais Wilson
27 APRIL 2020 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Piggy Hicks, Director of Thematic Engagement for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“So, we really want to emphasize that harmful information that should be countered by coordinated efforts to provide credible and accurate information rather than sweeping laws that can give rise to a broad-based censorship of dissenting views or be used in other ways. We've also emphasized that this is an important moment to facilitate access to the Internet and to end any Internet shutdowns”
FILE
7. Aerial shot, exterior, Palais Wilson
To help States in their response to COVID-19, the UN Human Rights Office on Monday issued new policy guidance on emergency and exceptional measures.
In a press conference given by Piggy Hicks, Director of Thematic Engagement and Georgette Gagnon, Director of Director of Field Operations detailed new policy guidance emergency and exceptional measures.
The OHCHR officials pointed to China and Brazil as countries of concern.
In case of China, Gagnon said “Since measures started to loosen a few weeks ago, the office has received reports of censorship on an offline, intimidation, arrests and apparent detention of dissenting voices such as doctors, journalists, human rights defenders and members of the CCP. The office is in direct contact with Chinese authorities to clarify the status of around half a dozen of such cases. China has informed us at this point that at least some of them are under investigation or have been or have been charged. Of course, it's critical that people must be able to express their views and have access to information without reprisals.”
Gagnon also reported that the OHCHR officials “are concerned about conflicting messages by authorities at times downplaying the seriousness of the situation, and that can undermine Brazil's efforts to address the pandemic with, of course, potential dire circumstances. And it's certainly our view that governments everywhere need to protect democratic values and human rights, preventing responses that fuel anti-democratic tendencies.”
The misinformation regarding COVID-19 also need to be dealt differently, OHCHR said.
SOUNDBITE (English) Piggy Hicks, Director of Thematic Engagement for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“So, we really want to emphasize that harmful information that should be countered by coordinated efforts to provide credible and accurate information rather than sweeping laws that can give rise to a broad-based censorship of dissenting views or be used in other ways. We've also emphasized that this is an important moment to facilitate access to the Internet and to end any Internet shutdowns”
Earlier, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet in a statement called on governments to ensure human rights are not violated under the guise of exceptional or emergency measures.
