The Geneva Interfaith Forum (GIF) has called on the United Nations to ensure that States protect human rights, amid the COVID-19 pandemic and the climate crisis. In the statement, the GIF highlights the link between the COVID-19 crisis and the climate crisis, pointing out that “both are adversely affecting people’s enjoyment of the human right to health and Sustainable Development Goal 3.” It notes that while the COVID-19 pandemic has infected millions of people around the world and resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths, climate change is projected to increase malnutrition, respiratory illnesses, vector-borne diseases, and the risk of new epidemics “through its destructive effects on biodiversity.” Furthermore, it states that economic shutdowns and other unparalleled measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 have “led to soaring joblessness and therefore rising poverty and hunger in both the developed and developing world.” “Climate change is already eroding bases of sustenance and decimating livelihoods, especially of farmers, fisherfolk, and indigenous peoples,” the statement points out.
This is “projected to undermine on a massive scale the rights to food and water, among other economic, social, and cultural rights (ESCR).” The GIF statement highlights that vulnerable and disadvantaged groups are often the most hard-hit by the effects of both the climate and COVID-19 crisis. These include minorities, migrants, refugees, indigenous people, and the income-poor, among others. It highlights the particular plight of women. It notes that both crises place heavy burdens on women who are disproportionately represented in the healthcare sector and the care economy, as well as accounting for the majority of the poor. The interfaith group also brings to the fore instances in some countries where lockdowns in response to COVID-19 were forcefully imposed by military and police with “adverse impacts on people’s political and civil rights.”
At the same time, it notes that climate activists and environmental defenders, especially in countries that have developed militarized responses to COVID-19, face “intensified vilification, harassment and even threats to life.” In light of their concerns, the forum makes some recommendations to the UN. The GIF appeals for recognition and monitoring of the intersection between the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and human rights, and recognition of the human right to a safe, clean, and healthy environment for all. The statement also contains calls to ensure respect for human rights when implementing measures against COVID-19, and the cancellation of the debt of the poorest countries, as well as global tax reform, to support states in fulfilling their human rights obligations.
