Human Rights Must Be at the Heart of the COVID-19 Recovery

Credit score: Defenders Coalition
  • Opinion by Siddharth Chatterjee (nairobi, kenya)
  • Inter Press Service

This yr, 2020, has been considered one of unprecedented challenges and has underscored the necessity for renewed motion to advertise and shield human rights. The COVID-19 pandemic has examined societies throughout the globe, and set again human rights positive aspects and progress in the direction of the Sustainable Growth Objectives. In Kenya, the multi-faceted impacts of the pandemic – on gender equality, well being, schooling, livelihoods, rule of legislation and the economic system – have examined efforts by the Authorities, United Nations, improvement companions and civil society to ship on the 2030 Agenda, Imaginative and prescient 2030 and the Large four improvement agenda, and challenged us to make sure that we go away nobody behind.

The disaster has hit the poorest and most susceptible communities the toughest, and entrenched present inequalities, discrimination and human rights challenges. Gender-based violence has skyrocketed; lack of employment and livelihoods have put additional pressure on households; the suitable to schooling is in danger for a lot of youngsters, significantly women; and inequalities in entry to water, satisfactory housing and well being providers have heightened vulnerabilities.

On this context, the theme of Human Rights Day 2020 is “Get well Higher – Stand Up for Human Rights”, highlighting the necessity to construct again higher from the COVID-19 disaster by placing human rights on the coronary heart of restoration efforts. This can be a name to motion and for unity of goal to sort out discrimination, handle inequalities, encourage participation and solidarity, and promote sustainable improvement for the advantage of all.

Because the United Nations Secretary-Basic, Mr. António Guterres, as soon as remarked, “The pandemic has demonstrated the fragility of our world”. The disaster has uncovered and exacerbated deep inequalities, entrenched discrimination and gaps in human rights safety. Solely measures to shut these gaps and advance human rights can guarantee we absolutely recuperate and construct again a world that’s extra resilient, simply and sustainable.

COVID-19 has created a possibility to construct again a extra equal and sustainable world – primarily based on a “new social contract” that respects the rights and freedoms of all, and addresses the inequalities uncovered by the pandemic. This “new social contract” – uniting Governments, the folks, civil society and personal sector – is the one method that we’ll meet the Sustainable Growth Objectives.

On this Decade of Motion to ship upon the Sustainable Growth Objectives by 2030, it’s crucial to prioritise participation and inclusion, to make sure that we go away nobody behind. Profitable COVID-19 restoration efforts require the sturdy participation of civil society and inclusion of communities, to make sure the voices and priorities of probably the most affected, susceptible and marginalised inform the restoration efforts. Public participation is a key tenet of the Structure of Kenya, and has a key function to play within the COVID-19 restoration.

It’s clear that this pandemic can’t be surmounted by a single actor. It’s in opposition to this backdrop that the United Nations Nation Workforce and the Authorities of Kenya, in step with the motto Umoja ni Nguvu (Unity is Power), have recognized strategic areas of cooperation and engagement below the United Nations Growth Help Framework, in addition to the Socio-Financial Response Plan, that concentrate on COVID-19 restoration wants and proceed the trajectory in the direction of the Sustainable Growth Objectives. That is underpinned by a human rights-based method that prioritises equality and non-discrimination, participation and inclusion, and accountability.

The COVID-19 pandemic has proven that we’re all on this collectively – and solidarity is the one method ahead. Everybody has a task to play in constructing a greater post-COVID world for current and future generations, and we should harness the energetic participation of communities, civil society, non-public sector, Authorities and the worldwide neighborhood.

On this Human Rights Day, allow us to all decide to Stand Up for Human Rights to construct again a extra equal and sustainable society that advances the rights and freedoms of all. This unity of goal will pave the way in which to assembly the Sustainable Growth Objectives and delivering upon Kenya’s Imaginative and prescient 2030.

Siddharth Chatterjee is the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Kenya

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© Inter Press Service (2020) — All Rights ReservedOriginal source: Inter Press Service



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