Giving Compass' Take:

• Ryan Kaminski and Cameron Kaufmann discuss how the UN is placing a premium on human rights during the coronavirus response effort.

• Why is it essential to ensure every nation receives adequate relief? How can you join the effort to uphold pivotal human rights issues throughout the pandemic?

• Find resources to guide your giving towards the coronavirus relief effort.

According to the new UN report on human rights released by the Secretary-General, the right to life and duty to protect life; right to health and access to care; and freedom of movement are “frontline in the current pandemic.”

The UN has made clear that discrimination has no place in the response to COVID-19. The UN Secretary-General has warned, “it is shameful to see increasing acts of racial discrimination and prejudice as we fight the #COVID19 pandemic – a crisis that affects us all.”

The Secretary-General has also reminded the international community that, “we are only as strong as the weakest health system in our interconnected world.” As a result, robust and inclusive pubic institutions are a requirement to turn the tide on COVID-19.

UN officials have made clear that it is crucial to consider the impact COVID-19 responses on specific populations, including women and girls. UN Women, for example, has issued a 10-point checklist for governments, municipalities, parliaments, and other decision makers to ensure women and girls are not left behind in responses to the pandemic.

Adopting a human right-based approach is not only the right thing to do, it is critical for the success of the global COVID-19 response. According to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, “COVID-19 is a test for our societies [and] human dignity and rights need to be front and center in that effort, not an afterthought.”

Read the full article about prioritizing human rights by Ryan Kaminski and Cameron Kaufmann at United Nations Foundation.