Respecting democracy, rule of law and human rights in the framework of the COVID-19 sanitary crisis:
A toolkit for member states available in different languages

The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Marija Pejčinović Burić, has issued a toolkit for governments across Europe on respecting human rights, democracy and the rule of law during the COVID-19 crisis.

The toolkit is designed to help ensure that measures taken by member states during the current crisis remain proportional to the threat posed by the spread of the virus and are limited in time.

The document covers four key areas:

  • Derogation from the European Convention on Human Rights in times of emergency
  • Respect for the rule of law and democratic principles in times of emergency, including limits on the scope and duration of emergency measures
  • Fundamental human rights standards including freedom of expression, privacy and data protection, protection of vulnerable groups from discrimination and the right to education
  • Protection from crime and the protection of victims of crime, in particular regarding gender-based violence.

See also:

 News "Coronavirus: guidance to governments on respecting human rights, democracy and the rule of law"

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