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Police officer of a special unit in Venezuela
Photo: Rayner Pena / EPA
Amnesty International laments a significant deterioration in the human rights situation for millions of people worldwide in the wake of the corona crisis.
In many regions, the pandemic has increased inequality, discrimination and oppression, the organization said on the occasion of the publication of its annual report.
The crisis was abused by numerous states to further restrict the rule of law and freedom of expression.
Above all, Amnesty criticizes the actions of rich countries in the fight against the virus.
"The pandemic has also increased mediocrity and mendacity, selfishness and deception among those in power in this world," Amnesty Secretary General Agnès Callamard wrote in the foreword to the 172-page report that will be officially presented this Wednesday.
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Above all, the report denounces the disadvantage of poorer countries when it comes to distributing the vaccine.
The Covax initiative of the World Health Organization, which was founded for equitable care, has been undermined by Russia, the USA and other countries.
More than 90 countries have also imposed export restrictions on medical devices, protective equipment, pharmaceuticals and food.
"The pandemic has drawn attention to the fact that the world is currently unable to work together effectively and fairly in a global event with great effects," said Callamard of the global fight against the pandemic to date.
In its annual report, Amnesty names several areas in which the grievances as a result of the corona pandemic are particularly severe:
Healthcare workers
would not be adequately protected from infection with the coronavirus.
"It is significant that, statistically speaking, in the past year a person working in the healthcare sector died with Covid-19 every 30 minutes," said Amnesty Germany boss Markus Beeko.
Criticism of the working conditions led to arrests, dismissals or other punitive measures.
In 42 of 149 countries surveyed, government agencies harassed or intimidated health workers in connection with the pandemic.
Refugees and migrants:
Their situation has worsened significantly during the pandemic, according to Amnesty.
In 42 states, too, there were reports of refugees and migrants being deported to countries where they were threatened with human rights violations.
Border closings have left people stranded without basic supplies, many have been detained in camps without basic sanitary facilities, and there is often a lack of clean water and important hygiene items.
Repression:
Violence in political conflicts has increased, as have restrictions on freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and freedom of the press.
Critics of the corona policy of their governments were targeted and suppressed in many places.
"Numerous states misused the health crisis to further dissolve the rule of law and restrict rights," said Beeko.
Discrimination:
Domestic violence has increased significantly in many regions of the world.
For many women as well as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersexual (LGBTI) people, protection and help offers are no longer available in the pandemic.
In at least 24 countries, Amnesty documented "credible allegations" that people had been arrested for their sexual orientation or gender identity - an increase of 16 percent compared to the previous year.
In the chapter on Germany in the Amnesty report, right-wing activities among the police and other security forces are criticized.
"Neither at the state nor at the federal level have independent complaints offices been set up to independently investigate discriminatory and illegal behavior by the police," it says.
At the end of 2020, there was still no individual labeling requirement for police officers in six federal states.
"The German constitutional state has gaps where it comes to transparency and control of the police - important international human rights standards are not complied with here," said the Amnesty expert on this subject, Maria Scharlau.
cop / dpa
