New Report on COVID-19 and Democracy Calls for Urgent Measures by Governments and Civil Society

The report identifies initiatives that governments and civil society need to take to respond to the challenge that COVID 19 causes to the democracies. It notes the threats to democracy that governments are restricting human rights and fundamental freedoms, such as freedom of assembly and movement, under the guise of managing the pandemic. The report highlights how some governments are interrupting elections, clamping down on political opponents, discriminating against minority and vulnerable groups, censoring media, and increasing disinformation and digital surveillance. It emphasizes how some governments are using the public health crisis to curtail democratic activities. It provides recommendations for policymakers and civil society to prevent the negative impacts of COVID-19 on democracy. Read more here.

Source: IDEA