The global crisis of COVID-19 has deepened pre-existing inequalities. Even under normal circumstances, the one billion persons living with disabilities worldwide are less likely to enjoy access to education, healthcare and livelihoods or to participate and be included in the community. As the world recovers from the pandemic, we must ensure that the aspirations and rights of persons with disabilities are included and accounted for in the post COVID-19 world. On the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (3 December), let us all commit to work together and achieve this goal.
Human Rights
Trafficking, abuse of power, human rights violations, environmental crimes, police violence. Journalists expose the abuses that impact us all. They stand up to power and inform us, sometimes at the cost of their own lives. That's why we must stand up for them.
The UN is committed to strengthening tolerance by fostering mutual understanding among cultures and peoples. This imperative lies at the core of the United Nations Charter, as well as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and is more important than ever in this era of rising and violent extremism. As part of this year鈥檚 observance of the International Day for Tolerance (16 Nov), recognized the work of the Centre R茅solution Conflits from the Democratic Republic in Congo by awarding them with the .
A number of -supported projects have successfully assisted people with disabilities in setting up their own businesses along all stages of the value chain. As a result, they are now able to support themselves and contribute to their local economies. In rural areas, people with disabilities tend to face more challenges than their counterparts in urban areas. They are less likely to attend school, be employed, be attended by a skilled health worker or own a mobile phone.
Having an adequate home is now, more than ever, a matter of life and death. As COVID-19 continues to spread, people have been told to stay at home, but this simple measure is impossible for people who do not have adequate housing. The United Nations designated the first Monday of October of every year as World Habitat Day to reflect on the state of our towns and cities, and on the basic right of all to adequate shelter. The Day is also intended to remind the world that we all have the power and the responsibility to shape the future of our cities and towns.
On 1 October, the world celebrates the 30th anniversary of International Day of Older Persons. Although all age groups are at risk of contracting COVID-19, older persons are at a significantly higher risk of mortality and severe disease following infection. Considering the higher risks confronted by older persons during the outbreak of pandemics, policy and programmatic interventions must be targeted towards raising awareness of their special needs. We also must listen to older persons鈥 voices, suggestions and ideas to build more inclusive and age-friendly societies.
The International Day for Universal Access to Information 2020 focuses on to the right to information in times of crisis. It highlights how public access to information save lives, builds trust and helps formulate sustainable policies through and beyond the COVID-19 crisis. Universal access to information means that everyone has the right to seek, receive and impart information. This right is an integral part of the right to freedom of expression. It is also bound with the right to freedom of the press, since the media plays a crucial role in informing the public about issues of interest.
The International Day of Sign Languages (23 September) is a unique opportunity to support and protect the linguistic identity and cultural diversity of all deaf people and other sign language users. The Day also emphasizes the principle of 鈥渘othing about us without us鈥 in terms of working with deaf communities. In 2020, the World Federation of the Deaf is issuing a Global Leaders Challenge. The challenge promotes the use of sign languages by local, national, and global leaders in partnership with national associations of deaf people in each country, as well as other deaf-led organisations.
A new report highlights a sharp increase in the global number of protests during which the police and security forces violated media freedom. Between January and June this year, 21 protests around the world were marred by violations of press freedom, including protests in which journalists were attacked, arrested and even killed. The report suggests that a troubling new threshold has been crossed, revealing a growing threat to media freedom and freedom of access to information.
All parties to the conflict in Yemen - and the humanitarian catastrophe that it has created 鈥 are responsible for terrible crimes which should be investigated by an international criminal probe.聽
#NotGoingBack: Recover, rebound, reimagine
Significant breaches of human rights and other life-threatening and discriminatory disruptions have made part of the COVID-19 responses worldwide. The UN Secretary General has requested all UN entities to support the efforts of the in their own respective areas of expertise. So, to better inform the response going forwards, commissioned a report on how COVID-19 public health orders and restrictions on movement have impacted the response to HIV and human rights.
The will meet virtually from 17 August to 4 September 2020. The Committee is a body of which monitors implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The includes updates on reports received from the parties to the Convention. The Committee will discuss how to strengthen cooperation between United Nations bodies and other stakeholders, including organizations of persons with disabilities, in order to enhance the promotion and protection of the rights of persons with disabilities.
reports on human rights-centred recommendations, by a coalition of 50 cities worldwide, to guide leaders as they use digital technology in response to crises such as COVID 19.
There are an estimated 67 million domestic workers worldwide, the vast majority of whom are women. As they try to maintain their livelihoods, lack of access to social protection makes domestic workers especially vulnerable to the pandemic. Oscar-nominated actress rose to fame in the film Roma, where she starred as an indigenous domestic worker. As a Goodwill Ambassador, Ms. Aparicio defends the rights of indigenous peoples and domestic workers. For domestic workers, there are only two options, she explains: stop receiving income or risk exposure to COVID-19.