The Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) has published a statement of principles relating to the treatment of persons deprived of their liberty in the context of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. This statement is now also available in French and Spanish.

Le Médiateur de la République, Maître Alioune Badara CISSE, a été reçu le vendredi 27 mars 2020 par le Chef de l’Etat. Cette audience s’inscrit dans le cadre des séances de concertation entre les institutions depuis l’apparition et la propagation vulgurante du Covid19.

Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Dunja Mijatović calls on member states to safeguard the rights and health of all persons in prison during the COVID-19 pandemic. Convicted prisoners and persons on remand are among those most vulnerable to viral contagions as they are held in a high-risk environment: in general, detention facilities are not adapted to face large-scale epidemics, and the basic protective measures such as social distancing and hygiene rules cannot be observed as easily as outside, exposing prisoners to greater health risks.

In the past weeks, parliaments, governments and local authorities have adopted legislation, decrees or decisions that clearly risk hampering the work of journalists and restricting the public’s right to receive information. Introducing disproportionate restrictions to press freedom is a counterproductive approach that must stop, says  Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović.

En todas las etapas de su interacción con el sistema de justicia, las mujeres trans privadas de la libertad están sujetas a discriminación, estigmatización y criminalización. El Equipo de Género y Diversidad Sexual de la Procuración Penitenciaria de la Nación (PPN) junto otras organizaciones regionales presenta un nuevo informe que investiga las condiciones de vida de las mujeres trans y travestis privadas de la libertad.

The Human Rights Defender examined the Draft Laws on Making Supplements to the Law on the State of Emergency and on Making Supplements to the Law on Electronic Communication in an urgent manner.

The Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Sabina Aliyeva addressed to the relevant state bodies, the public and private sector actors the message drawing the attention to the issue of ensuring the urgent needs of persons with disabilities as they are among the high-risk groups of the population during the ongoing outbreak of COVID-19. 

Coronavirus (COVID-19) has had a profound impact on daily life, with many facing restrictions upon personal movement and personal freedoms to enable the authorities to better combat the pandemic. Advice issued by the UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT) in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic is now available in English, French and Spanish.

Armenian Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan has published a guide on frequently asked questions about the new Coronavirus and the situation of human rights in a State of Emergency.

The Seimas Ombudsman appealed to all Lithuanian municipalities and care institutions to ensure respect for human rights and freedoms in the time of COVID-19 outbreak. In his appeal, the Seimas Ombudsman aimed to remind that international human rights standards guarantee the right of every person to the highest standard of health care, even in an emergency.