By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
The Zimbabwe Humans Rights Commission says Covid-19 is negatively impacting on the enjoyment of several human rights such as the right to life, the right to healthcare, the right to education, the right to an adequate standard of living and a number of freedoms and liberties.
In a statement to mark International Human Rights Day commemorations, ZHRC said it was unfortunate the celebrations were held amidst the COVID – 19 pandemic.
“As a result of the devastating socio – economic impacts of the COVID – 19 pandemic, pervasive inequalities have emerged disproportionately affecting vulnerable groups in our society.
“The social impacts of the pandemic manifest in an increase in social evils such as sexual and gender-based violence, teenage pregnancies, child marriages and delinquency among the youths. 6. Evidently, the pandemic is still very much with us following the advent of the recent Omicron variant of the coronavirus,” ZHRC said.
The Commission urged communities to take heed of the Government’s call for people to get vaccinated.
“Furthermore, the Commission urges health institutions and service providers offering vaccination services to ensure enhanced accessibility to the vaccination centres by the most marginalised and disadvantaged through scaling up of mobile vaccination centres.
“The Commission also urges the Government to avail more resources towards public assistance to cater for the vulnerabilities brought about or worsened by the COVID -19 pandemic,” statement reads
- The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) which is the National Human Rights Institution (NHRI) and Public Protector for Zimbabwe joins the Government of Zimbabwe, other stakeholders and the rest of the world in commemorating International Human Rights Day (IHRD). IHRD is a day set aside annually to celebrate the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) by the United Nations General Assembly on 10 December 1948.
- The UDHR is the first international agreement which outlined the rights and freedoms everyone is entitled to after the world had experienced the horrific human rights abuses during the Second World War (1939 – 1945). The adoption of the UDHR recognised human rights to be the foundation for freedom, justice, and peace. IHRD is also set aside as a day to celebrate the achievements of those who have fought for and protected human rights.
- This year’s International Human Rights Day commemorations run under the theme: “EQUALITY – Reducing inequalities, advancing human rights”. Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) proclaims that “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.” Article 2 of the UDHR entitles everyone rights in the Declaration and outlaws any basis for discrimination. One is entitled to human rights simply because of being human.
- This year’s IHRD theme resonates with provisions of Section 56 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe which guarantees the right of every person to equality and nondiscrimination, prescribing not less than 25 grounds in terms of which discrimination is outlawed. Section 56 guarantees all persons, equality before the law, right to equal protection and benefit of the law.
The section guarantees equal treatment for women and men and equal opportunities in political, economic, cultural, and social spheres.
Some of the grounds for discrimination which are outlawed include nationality, colour, race, political affiliation, opinion, custom, culture, sex, gender, marital status, age, pregnancy, disability or economic or social status.
- Unfortunately, International Human Rights Day is being commemorated once more amidst the COVID – 19 pandemic.
As a result of the devastating socio – economic impacts of the COVID – 19 pandemic, pervasive inequalities have emerged disproportionately affecting vulnerable groups in our society.
The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted on the enjoyment of several human rights such as the right to life, the right to healthcare, the right to education, the right to an adequate standard of living and a number of freedoms and liberties.
The social impacts of the pandemic manifest in an increase in social evils such as sexual and gender-based violence, teenage pregnancies, child marriages and delinquency among the youths. 6. Evidently, the pandemic is still very much with us following the advent of the recent Omicron variant of the coronavirus.
The Commission urges communities to take heed of the Government’s call for people to get vaccinated.
Furthermore, the Commission urges health institutions and service providers offering vaccination services to ensure enhanced accessibility to the vaccination centres by the most marginalised and disadvantaged through scaling up of mobile vaccination centres.
The Commission also urges the Government to avail more resources towards public assistance to cater for the vulnerabilities brought about or worsened by the COVID -19 pandemic.
In conclusion ZHRC reiterates that everyone has a duty to ensure that equality and non-discrimination are at the heart of everything we do to protect, promote, enforce and fulfil human rights, particularly of the most vulnerable in our communities.
These include women, children, youths, workers, older persons, persons with disabilities, communities prone to or affected by natural disasters, people without national documentation, people without sustainable livelihoods, among many others.
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