UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL

49^th session

Meeting on enhancing technical cooperation and capacity-building in promoting and protecting the human rights of persons in vulnerable and marginalized situations in recovery efforts during and after the COVID-19 pandemic

7th March 2022

EU Statement

Mr. President,

[To date there are nearly 6 million dead, more than 430 million infected and billions of others have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, which continues to rage globally. It is one of the greatest health emergencies in our recent history].

The EU is also deeply concerned about how the pandemic acted as a catalyst for the erosion of democracy and turned into a human rights crisis. Emergency powers were invoked and legislation promulgated to reduce freedom of expression and freedom of assembly, to silence the opposition, independent media, journalists and human rights defenders. Persons in vulnerable and marginalized situations have been excluded from health protection measures and from socioeconomic programs designed to respond to the pandemic.

Recovery is not just about safeguarding public health. States have a duty to address the immediate, medium and long-term human rights consequences of their response and recovery measures. This includes addressing the root causes of the inequalities that the pandemic has revealed and exacerbated. The guidance developed and the recommendations issued by UN Human Rights mechanisms are critical in this regard.

Quality, safe and effective treatment, diagnostics and vaccines that aim to achieve immunization against COVID-19 have to be available to everyone without discrimination. The EU is the leading donor to the ACT-Accelerator and its  facility on vaccines, COVAX. In addition, we will secure 700 million doses for sharing by Team Europe by the middle of 2022. The EU works with partners across the globe, not just to ensure availability and accessibility of vaccines and essential health products, but to strengthen health and social protection systems and to address underlying determinants of health such as water and sanitation.

The EU, its Member States and European financial institutions acting together as “Team Europe” have mobilized 48 billion Euros to promote an equitable, sustainable and inclusive recovery and help the most vulnerable countries and the people most at risk. As of February 2022, the EU has also provided EUR 563 million in humanitarian support to populations affected by the pandemic.

The EU continues to be an advocate for and a large donor for efforts to address different forms of multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination, to drive progress on all women’s and girls’ rights, promote inclusive and meaningful decision-making and we will continue cooperation to strengthen good governance, rule of law and accountable institutions.

At the beginning of the pandemic, the Secretary General rightly said, “human rights can and must guide COVID-19 response and recovery”. Building back better requires ensuring a human rights-based approach and the EU is ready to do its part.