The CSO Human Rights Platform said while it welcomes the state of emergency as a normal trend under the circumstances of the Coronavirus, the Government should adhere to the recommendations of the United Nations Human Rights Committee regarding the state of emergency declared by the Government of Liberia during the Ebola outbreak. The state of emergency declared in 2014 to tackle the Ebola crisis were marred by violence perpetrated by state securities against civilians. “The guideline should further spell out or specify conduct of the central role of state security forces in COVID-19 response to enhanced state of emergency directives. It also mentioned that while the government has made some progress in ensuring respect for human rights, outline in its National Human Rights Action Plan (NHRAP), there exists serious challenges, among them include the protection for health workers giving care to COVID-19 patients including their benefits. The group also wants that protections outlined under international human rights law should guard the State of Emergency enforcement by the Government of Liberia.

Source: Front Page Africa April 14, 2020 21:11 UTC