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United Nations chief António Guterres has said the coronavirus pandemic has unleashed a “tsunami of hate and xenophobia, scapegoating and scaremongering”, and appealed for an all-out effort “to end hate speech globally.”
The UN secretary-general said anti-foreigner sentiment has surged online and on the streets and highlighted the spread of antisemitic conspiracy theories and COVID-19-related anti-Muslim attacks.
His comments came as China said it was “always open to cooperate” with World Health Organisation (WHO) investigations into the origins of the coronavirus, as Donald Trump repeated claims that the outbreak originated in a Wuhan laboratory.
Trump’s claims, for which the US is yet to provide evidence, have fuelled tension between the two superpowers and placed a crucial trade deal between the two countries in jeopardy.
The global death toll from the outbreak passed 269,500 on Friday and the WHO warned that deaths in Africa could reach 190,000.
Mexico recorded its highest daily toll of 1,982.
Members of Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) and Colombian Army distribute food and other items to families in the rural areas of Ubaque in Colombia on April 27.
As speculation swirled about where the virus originated, Guterres said migrants and refugees have been vilified as a source of the virus and then denied access to medical treatment.
“With older persons among the most vulnerable, contemptible
memes have emerged suggesting they are also the most expendable, “he said.
“And journalists, whistleblowers, health professionals, aid workers and human rights defenders are being targeted simply for doing their jobs.”
Guterres called on political leaders to show solidarity with all people, on educational institutions to focus on digital literacy at a time when extremists are seeking to prey on captive and potentially despairing audiences.
He called on the media, especially social media, to remove racist, misogynist and other harmful content, on civil society to strengthen their outreach to vulnerable people, and on religious figures to serve as models of mutual respect.
“And I ask everyone, everywhere, to stand up against hate, treat each other with dignity and take every opportunity to spread kindness,” Guterres said.
The secretary-general stressed that Covid-19 “does not care who
we are, where we live, what we believe or about any other distinction”.
His global appeal to address and counter COVID-19-related hate speech follows his April 23 message calling the coronavirus pandemic a human crisis that is fast becoming a human rights crisis.
Reported by: Vincent Paul
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