Coronavirus restrictions are meant to save lives, but for authoritarian leaders they can be an excuse to adopt repressive measures.
And the coronavirus emergency is fast becoming a human-rights crisis – that’s the warning from United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
He has highlighted an increase in hate speech, targeting of vulnerable groups and heavy-handed security responses.
He has also said there is discrimination in the way public services are being delivered to tackle the pandemic.
The UN says aggressive cyber policies are increasingly being used, while journalists, health workers and activists are being targeted.
Guterres did not specifically name countries violating human rights.
But how difficult is it to balance that fight and basic rights?
Presenter: Richelle Carey
Guests:
Anna-Karin Jatfors – Deputy Regional Director at UN Women
Daoud Kuttab – Journalist
Frederick Rawski – Director for the Asia & the Pacific Programme at the International Commission of Jurists
Source: Al Jazeera News
