Video Statement by Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

67th   Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights

13 November 2020

Distinguished Chair,
Distinguished delegates,

I am honoured to speak at this session, at a time of unprecedented crisis during which millions of people will look to this body for help. Over the years, my Office has greatly valued our partnership across a range of issues. Today, the COVID-19 pandemic, and its accompanying recession and socio- economic impact, call for your leadership and guidance.

Africa has fared better than other regions, in terms of the direct, medical harms. But other aspects of the pandemic are hitting the continent very hard, including sudden, sharp falls in remittances, foreign direct investment, commodity prices and tourism.

Estimates indicate that between 90 million and 120 million people will be pushed into extreme poverty in the developing world this year, with close to 300 million facing food insecurity. These severely negative trends could exacerbate tensions and conflicts – and their impact on development, in every country, will be profound.

My Office has taken steps to help Governments and other actors mitigate the impacts of COVID-19, by placing people's rights at the core of all efforts to respond to, and recover from, the pandemic.

We have also strengthened partnerships with national human rights mechanisms and civil society groups at the national and grassroots level, to help boost their capacity to face this crisis.

It is important to acknowledge that many Governments, including African Governments, have taken strong steps to uphold people's rights They range from additional investments to ensure access to quality health-care, in line with the right to health; the release of detainees from crowded facilities at high risk of contagion; the provision of economic and food assistance to vulnerable groups; and other ad hoc measures to expand life-saving social protections.

But at the same time, our human rights monitoring has also picked up some dangerous and negative trends. In some cases, the enforcement of emergency measures has involved arbitrary detention and excessive use of force – and even killings – by police, as well as extortion and theft. We have also witnessed pervasive and unjustified restrictions of the right to freedom of expression, and the civic space in general. We’ve seen unprincipled and unjustifiable attacks on journalists and media outlets, as well as against people, such as health workers, who report on social media or elsewhere about what they are personally experiencing or witnessing during the pandemic, or expressing their critical views.

Across every region – and Africa is no exception – we also have reports of rising sexual and gender-based violence, as well as increased stigmatization, discrimination and hate speech associated with COVID-19.

Together, we need to work to push back against these negative trends, which both undermine people's rights and harm any possible recovery from the crisis. We must make sure that the COVID-19 responses and recovery measures contribute to longer-term recovery – including by reducing inequalities and discrimination; increasing investments in healthcare and social protection for all; empowering people who have been disproportionally affected, such as those living in poverty, women, people with disabilities, and displaced people; and establishing full and meaningful participation in governance, for more effective, inclusive responses.

I know we can count on the members of this body, and the African Union, to help Governments and peoples across the continent to respond to, and recover from, COVID-19.

I believe we also share concerns about the context of violence, intercommunal tensions and repression of fundamental rights that has surrounded several recent elections on the African continent.

We must strengthen our shared efforts to promote the broadest possible respect for the civic and democratic space. Criticism can be very constructive, and national human rights institutions, civil society, including the media, play a vital role in supporting good governance, sustainable development and social harmony. All Governments should uphold rights to political participation, including the right to peaceful assembly, in accordance with international standards, and ensure their exercise without discrimination, fear or reprisals.

My Office is committed to continue working with the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, now and in the future, to promote the human rights norms that can offer effective solutions to build stronger resilience to shocks, and counter despair, by preventing social, economic and political instability.

Thank you