While many lives will be lost, unfortunately, we need to try to save as many as possible! The last numbers on the worldwide situation speak about a million persons infected and about 50 thousand dead. While some countries have been hardest hit, all are struggling daily to contain the spread of the virus!
The pandemic challenges
The Covid-19 pandemic challenges not only our lives and health, but also the enjoyment of human rights, democracy, and the rule of law in many countries. Despite natural tendencies to focus only at the national picture, the Covid-19 response is not a matter of either/or, as only international cooperation, solidarity and humanitarian assistance will ensure that we go through this pandemic in the shortest possible time and with least possible damage.
UN warns about the need to respect human rights
As we learn more about the coronavirus, we will have to adjust the response measures to ease the burden on the many, while trying to protect everyone. Until a vaccine is found and administered, which will take time, we have to follow closely the advice of the health and national authorities. Prevention is the best cure for every disease, including Covid-19!
Different national authorities, regional organizations, and the UN have warned about the need to respect human rights, pay specific attention to vulnerable groups, and ensure that the adopted response measures leave no one behind. We need to be vigilant to ensure that the checks and balances of power are preserved and that restrictions on human rights are not pushed beyond what is necessary.
Norway forefronts efforts to find cure
Norway has been at the forefront of joined efforts to find a cure and to put together an international response to aid vulnerable societies, in cooperation with other countries and the UN. We salute the dedicated medical healthcare workers, police, shopkeepers and pharmacists, and others that are serving in the first lines of response.
Human rights work from home
As part of the protective measures taken by the Norwegian government on 12 March 2020, the University of Oslo is closed and so are our offices at Domus Juridica. Our dedicated staff continues its important human rights work from home. Teaching is done digitally and the cooperation with our international partners continues, in different forms. If you want to reach us, please email us at info@nchr.uio.no.
We will pull through this, if we stand together in solidarity. Stay safe and healthy!