UN chief says pandemic is unleashing a ‘tsunami of hate’
AP UNITED NATIONS: , MAY 08, 2020 10:57 IST
UPDATED: MAY 08, 2020 10:58 IST
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres addresses his statement, during the opening of the High-Level Segment of the 43rd session of the Human Rights Council, at the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, Monday, Feb. 24, 2020.
The U.N. chief said “anti-foreigner sentiment has surged online and in the streets, anti-Semitic conspiracy theories have spread, and COVID-19-related anti-Muslim attacks have occurred.”
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Friday the coronavirus pandemic keeps unleashing “a tsunami of hate and xenophobia, scapegoating and scare-mongering” and appealed for “an all-out effort to end hate speech globally.”
The U.N. chief said “anti-foreigner sentiment has surged online and in the streets, anti-Semitic conspiracy theories have spread, and COVID-19-related anti-Muslim attacks have occurred.”
Mr. Guterres said migrants and refugees “have been vilified as a source of the virus - and then denied access to medical treatment.”
"With older persons among the most vulnerable, contemptible memes have emerged suggesting they are also the most expendable,” he said. “And journalists, whistleblowers, health professionals, aid workers and human rights defenders are being targeted simply for doing their jobs.”
Mr. Guterres called on political leaders to show solidarity with all people, on educational institutions to focus on “digital literacy” at a time when “extremists are seeking to prey on captive and potentially despairing audiences.”
"And I ask everyone, everywhere, to stand up against hate, treat each other with dignity and take every opportunity to spread kindness,” Mr. Guterres said.
The secretary-general stressed that COVID-19 “does not care who we are, where we live, what we believe or about any other distinction.”
Mr. Guterres said then that the pandemic has seen “disproportionate effects on certain communities, the rise of hate speech, the targeting of vulnerable groups, and the risks of heavy-handed security responses undermining the health response.”
With “rising ethno-nationalism, populism, authoritarianism and a push back against human rights in some countries, the crisis can provide a pretext to adopt repressive measures for purposes unrelated to the pandemic,” he warned.
In February, Mr. Guterres issued a call to action to countries, businesses and people to help renew and revive human rights across the globe, laying out a seven-point plan amid concerns about climate change, conflict and repression.
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Khwaja Shahid
58m
Secy General's advice is very important and timely. We in lndia has coined a word : "Infophobia". It represents false and hate news on TV channels and social media.lts enormousity has complled the govt to take note of it and issue guidelines / instructions to check it. Many cases are filed in courts of law against defaulters. The false hate propaganda has been resulting in social boyctting of members of particular community. Their shops are not being allowed to operate or their vendors are not allowed in colonies belonging to other community. These trends of social and economic boyctting should be curbed by law enforcing agencies and community leadership. Unity is most important strength to fight against th pendemic.
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Antonio Guterres 43rd session of the Human Rights Council
AP UNITED NATIONS: , MAY 08, 2020 10:57 IST
UPDATED: MAY 08, 2020 10:58 IST
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres addresses his statement, during the opening of the High-Level Segment of the 43rd session of the Human Rights Council, at the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, Monday, Feb. 24, 2020.
The U.N. chief said “anti-foreigner sentiment has surged online and in the streets, anti-Semitic conspiracy theories have spread, and COVID-19-related anti-Muslim attacks have occurred.”
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Friday the coronavirus pandemic keeps unleashing “a tsunami of hate and xenophobia, scapegoating and scare-mongering” and appealed for “an all-out effort to end hate speech globally.”
The U.N. chief said “anti-foreigner sentiment has surged online and in the streets, anti-Semitic conspiracy theories have spread, and COVID-19-related anti-Muslim attacks have occurred.”
Mr. Guterres said migrants and refugees “have been vilified as a source of the virus - and then denied access to medical treatment.”
"With older persons among the most vulnerable, contemptible memes have emerged suggesting they are also the most expendable,” he said. “And journalists, whistleblowers, health professionals, aid workers and human rights defenders are being targeted simply for doing their jobs.”
Mr. Guterres called on political leaders to show solidarity with all people, on educational institutions to focus on “digital literacy” at a time when “extremists are seeking to prey on captive and potentially despairing audiences.”
"And I ask everyone, everywhere, to stand up against hate, treat each other with dignity and take every opportunity to spread kindness,” Mr. Guterres said.
The secretary-general stressed that COVID-19 “does not care who we are, where we live, what we believe or about any other distinction.”
Mr. Guterres said then that the pandemic has seen “disproportionate effects on certain communities, the rise of hate speech, the targeting of vulnerable groups, and the risks of heavy-handed security responses undermining the health response.”
With “rising ethno-nationalism, populism, authoritarianism and a push back against human rights in some countries, the crisis can provide a pretext to adopt repressive measures for purposes unrelated to the pandemic,” he warned.
In February, Mr. Guterres issued a call to action to countries, businesses and people to help renew and revive human rights across the globe, laying out a seven-point plan amid concerns about climate change, conflict and repression.
-----
Khwaja Shahid
58m
Secy General's advice is very important and timely. We in lndia has coined a word : "Infophobia". It represents false and hate news on TV channels and social media.lts enormousity has complled the govt to take note of it and issue guidelines / instructions to check it. Many cases are filed in courts of law against defaulters. The false hate propaganda has been resulting in social boyctting of members of particular community. Their shops are not being allowed to operate or their vendors are not allowed in colonies belonging to other community. These trends of social and economic boyctting should be curbed by law enforcing agencies and community leadership. Unity is most important strength to fight against th pendemic.
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Antonio Guterres 43rd session of the Human Rights Council
