Online Masterclass ‘‘Corona & Human Rights” for Student Groups

As the COVID-19 pandemic tears across the world we are all worried about the future. These are lonely and uncertain times. Life may feel like it’s on hold right now – but the fight for human rights never stops. The way governments decide to respond to the corona crisis will impact the human rights of millions of people. Amnesty International is closely monitoring government responses to the crisis. These are extraordinary times, but it’s important to remember that human rights law still applies. Indeed, it will help us get through this together.

Despite its negative impacts on our well-being, COVID-19 is not violating our human rights. Ultimately, the responsibility to respect, protect and fulfill human rights lies with the state. It is both a legal and practical responsibility. There are numerous types and examples of human rights concerns related to COVID-19. For example, there are still many refugees fleeing persecution and hardship around the world. The Trump administration has reportedly planned to turn away all asylum-seekers coming to the U.S. border, justifying the move as a response to the growing epidemic. Also, access to information is vital during a pandemic. People need to be informed in order to protect themselves and journalists may not be arrested simply because of executing their work. Freedom of expression has also come under pressure. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, the Chinese government has undermined the right to freedom of expression and access to information by persecuting whistleblowers and stifling awareness-raising efforts. Amnesty’s work to protect human rights is more relevant than ever.

In this online masterclass for Amnesty Student Group members we will discuss with you existing and occurring human rights issues related to the corona crisis. For this we will focus on different cases such as concerns about a state of emergency, the refugee crisis, privacy issues and undermining democracy. Hopefully we can together come up with an online action that we can execute on the National Student Day. Because we have to keep in mind: Physically distant, but always together in solidarity.

What: Online Masterclass for Amnesty Student Groups
When: 20-04-20
What time: from 17.00 till 19.00
Where: Online via Zoom

REGISTRATION IS CLOSED