Statement by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
April 17, 2020.
The COVID-19 pandemic is threatening to overwhelm public health-care systems, and is having devastating impacts throughout the world on all spheres of life – the economy, social security, education and food production. Tens of thousands of lives have already been lost, including those of doctors and nurses providing front-line medical treatment. Jobs have been lost and livelihoods imperilled as a result of restrictions imposed to curb the transmission of the virus, such as lockdowns. Schools are closed in many affected countries, and people cannot gather for significant cultural and community events such as religious services, weddings or funerals. At the outset of its statement, the Committee extends its sympathy to all victims of the pandemic and their families, as well as the broader communities of which they are part.
The pandemic has profoundly negative impacts on the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights, especially the right to health of the most vulnerable groups in society. As explained below, States parties are under an obligation to take measures to prevent, or at least to mitigate, these impacts. Nevertheless, if States do not act within a human rights framework, there exists a clear risk that the measures taken might violate economic, social and cultural rights and increase the suffering of the most marginalised groups. No one should be left behind as a result of the measures it is necessary to take to combat this pandemic.1 These circumstances have led the Committee to issue the present statement to highlight the most important impacts of this pandemic on economic, social and cultural rights and to make some recommendations to States parties to combat the COVID19 pandemic in a manner consistent with their obligations under the Covenant.
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