In the past weeks, parliaments, governments and local authorities have adopted legislation, decrees or decisions that clearly risk hampering the work of journalists and restricting the public’s right to receive information. Introducing disproportionate restrictions to press freedom is a counterproductive approach that must stop, says  Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović.

Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Dunja Mijatović calls on member states to safeguard the rights and health of all persons in prison during the COVID-19 pandemic. Convicted prisoners and persons on remand are among those most vulnerable to viral contagions as they are held in a high-risk environment: in general, detention facilities are not adapted to face large-scale epidemics, and the basic protective measures such as social distancing and hygiene rules cannot be observed as easily as outside, exposing prisoners to greater health risks.

As one of the preventive measures against the spread of coronavirus, especially because of those who frequently violate the self-isolation measure, the Government has proposed amendments to the Electronic Communications Act to monitor citizens’ movements. It would allow location data to be collected, which may restrict citizens’ rights to freedom of movement and privacy.

The Ombudsman received several complaints from workers whose functions are incompatible with the teleworking regime and are forced to miss work to provide support to the elderly who are part of their household and depend on their permanent support, especially in the face of the recent closure of social responses in which they were integrated (day centers and homes).

The Queensland Ombudsman’s report, Management of child safety complaints – second report: An investigation into the management of child safety complaints within the Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women, was today tabled by the Honourable Curtis Pitt MP, Speaker of the Queensland Parliament.

Jesús Maeztu, Defensor del Pueblo andaluz y Defensor del Menor de Andalucía, intervino ayer en el programa Acento Andaluz de 7Televisión contestando a preguntas sobre las consecuencias sociales del coronavirus.

The Seimas Ombudsman appealed to all Lithuanian municipalities and care institutions to ensure respect for human rights and freedoms in the time of COVID-19 outbreak. In his appeal, the Seimas Ombudsman aimed to remind that international human rights standards guarantee the right of every person to the highest standard of health care, even in an emergency.

Armenian Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan has published a guide on frequently asked questions about the new Coronavirus and the situation of human rights in a State of Emergency.