Some governments ‘using’ Covid-19 to stifle dissent, UN human rights chief warns
By France24
16 May 2020 |
11:00 am
In an interview with FRANCE 24, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet warned that some governments were taking advantage of emergency powers imposed amid the Covid-19 crisis to stifle dissent. She also called for the response to the pandemic to be "driven by science-based facts", rather than politics or the economy.
In this article
Related
16 Nov
Bayern Munich cruised past Schalke to make it 10 wins in a row in their last match before the World Cup. Jamal Musiala was the star again as Bayern's Germany contingent appear ready to bring their club form to Qatar.
19 Nov
The United Nations political affairs chief has called Russia's attack on Ukrainian cities the "most intense bombardment" since Russia invaded Ukraine. She also warned the world of a "catastrophic spillover."
20 Nov
A third of the food we produce is wasted, emitting as much as 10% of global greenhouse gases. Failed targets to reduce food waste — especially in rich nations — need to be urgently updated at COP27, says UN.
18 Nov
With the UN climate summit close to an end, Antonio Guterres said there was no time for "finger pointing." Negotiators are deadlocked in talks on establishing a fund to help poorer countries deal with climate disasters.
23 Nov
Germany is deciding whether to completely pull out of the UN's MINUSMA peacekeeping mission in Mali. This comes after Britain and Ivory Coast said they would withdraw their troops.
19 Nov
The Gulf nation of Qatar is hosting the FIFA World Cup, even as human rights groups document the colossal loss of life among migrant labourers working on the country's massive construction programme. Moreover, Qatar's attitude to same-sex relationships has prompted calls for the Emirate to be shunned.
21 Nov
German soccer boss Bernd Neuendorf said his team was prepared to be fined for wearing a multi-colored armband in Qatar. He also didn't rule out other protest actions by German players at the World Cup.
24 Nov
The IAEA has said Iran is continuing to accelerate its nuclear program and is producing highly enriched uranium at a new site.
27 Nov
The UN Human Rights Council was considering an international investigation into the human rights situation in Iran. Tehran said the West "lack the moral credibility" to criticize it.
27 Nov
Missile attacks on Ukraine's battered power grid are an "obvious crime against humanity," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has told the UN Security Council.
27 Nov
More than half of the women and girls murdered last year were killed by a partner of a close relative, UN data showed. The number of deaths is "alarmingly high," but the UN warns the real situation is likely much worse.
Latest
1 day ago
Find these stories and much more when you grab a copy of The Guardian on Wednesday.
1 day ago
The International Monetary Fund has raised its forecasts for the global economy for 2023, stating that growth has been “surprisingly resilient". However, it also said the UK is likely to be the only leading economy to head into recession in 2023.
1 day ago
Heavy rainfall that followed the landfall of Tropical Storm Cheneso in Madagascar has killed 16 people and left 17 missing, the government's Office for Risk and Disaster Management said.
1 day ago
The Lunar New Year is a huge holiday in China, but also in other Asian countries like Korea and Vietnam. More than one billion people will be celebrating the event, which begins on January 22. For most, it's the Year of the Rabbit but in Vietnam, people will mark the Year of the Cat.
1 day ago
The International Monetary Fund has given a brighter outlook in its latest report than in October, predicting that inflation will slow. It said that European economies had shown more resilience than expected.