GAAMAC Chair Statement on COVID-19
The COVID-19 global pandemic is affecting millions of people and communities around the world. GAAMAC stands in solidarity with those who are directly and indirectly impacted by the coronavirus outbreak, in particular the most vulnerable.
Public health measures are being taken by many governments, notably citizens are requested to practice social distancing and self-isolation to limit the contagion. At the same time, some governments have not taken timely decisions and this may have lethal consequences.
We are aware of the urgent needs of most vulnerable groups, such as migrants, the homeless, and people who are considered illegal and who may not have access to public health services. In this context, everyone should be granted access to public services and be protected from the pandemic.
More than ever, the international community needs to stand together to protect and enforce the UN Charter and its common international obligations. Also, prevention will be efficient if all citizens contribute to this joint endeavour, thus uniting as a global community to fight this pandemic.
Ongoing efforts to prevent atrocities are crucial: we need to remain vigilant to emerging risk factors. With the extent and magnitude of the pandemic still unknown, behaviours and practices such as discrimination, stigmatisation and hate speech might increase, potentially leading to renewed human rights violations and atrocities.
During this challenging time, GAAMAC continues to work online and the team is currently exploring different ways to strengthen virtual exchanges and relations between prevention actors.
Dear GAAMAC partners, friends and colleagues, during this difficult time, let us stand together for prevention, learn more about it and celebrate the daily little successes that human beings are achieving for the common good. We are all in this together and we will get out of the crisis together, hopefully with more solidarity and awareness about our common values, humanity and destiny.
We look forward to pursuing our engagement with the GAAMAC community online.
Mô Bleeker, GAAMAC Chair
